Eastman Credit Union to Sponsor ETSU Basketball, Baseball
The credit union's logo will appear on jerseys for ETSU's men's and women's basketball and baseball programs starting with the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Basketball
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Eastman Credit Union will serve as jersey patch sponsor for East Tennessee State University's men's and women's basketball teams and baseball program, beginning with the 2026-27 season. The agreement follows an NCAA rule change allowing Division I programs to display additional corporate logos on uniforms.
Why it matters
The deal reflects a shift in college athletics as NCAA rules open new revenue streams for programs navigating a changing financial landscape. For Johnson City, it ties a local financial institution directly to the university's athletic identity.
The patch will appear on uniforms through the regular seasons of all three programs. The announcement did not specify the contract's value or duration.
The players
Eastman Credit Union
Eastman Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative based in Kingsport, Tennessee, serving customers across the region.
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is a public university in Johnson City, Tennessee, competing in NCAA Division I athletics.
The details
Eastman Credit Union is the Official Credit Union of ETSU Athletics, and the partnership will emphasize financial literacy for student-athletes. The sponsorship is projected to provide resources for the athletics department's revenue sharing.
Timeline
The sponsorship begins with the 2026-27 season.
Season Trajectory
The NCAA's decision to loosen uniform-advertising restrictions opens a new sponsorship category for Division I programs. ETSU's deal is an early local example of schools using that change to expand athletic revenue.
Fans of ETSU's basketball and baseball teams will see the Eastman logo on uniforms beginning in the 2026-27 season. The sponsorship does not change ticket pricing or game schedules.
The takeaway
Changing NCAA rules are reshaping how college programs find sponsorship money, and local partnerships like this one show how that money is being put to work. Readers following ETSU athletics can watch for further sponsor announcements as the 2026-27 season approaches.
Further reading
Find more coverage in Basketball for Johnson City's local college hoops scene.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CUToday.
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