Duke's Coach K Court to have sponsorship logo for first time
For the first time in program history, Coach K Court at Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium will have a sponsorship logo on it, the program announced Monday.
The logo of Edward Jones, a financial services firm, now appears on the opposite side of "Coach K Court." Duke's men's and women's basketball and volleyball programs all play on the court. Wrestling does, too, but mats will cover the logo.
The news comes in conjunction with Edward Jones being named the wealth management partner for Duke basketball in a four-year agreement.
It's a simple addition to the hardwood, but one that illuminates the continuously changing college sports landscape. Duke's Vice President and King-Compton Families Director of Athletics Nina King told ESPN the inclusion is "a significant move forward for us."
"We're really excited. This is a huge deal and absolutely the right partner for us to just put their logo on the court and really jump into a relationship with," King told ESPN. "The college athletics model economically is certainly evolving and we have to evolve with it."
As part of the deal, first announced in June, Edward Jones will introduce financial education workshops and resources for student athletes. But the key piece is Edward Jones on Coach K Court.
While other college basketball powerhouses such as in-state rival North Carolina, Kansas and UConn, among others, added sponsorship logos on its respective courts in recent years, Duke had not.
King explained that the "financial model of college athletics" evolving in a significant way recently opened the doors for a court sponsor. They felt a responsibility to adapt to the new realities and, most importantly, find the right partner.
"We weren't going to do this until we found somebody that we felt like was a great fit for Duke athletics and Duke University, frankly," King said. "A company that has the values and mission alignment with Duke University that can benefit our Duke community, not just Duke student athletes."
King added that "for a long time" Duke looked at which inventory and assets it had to sell. Coach K Court stood out. When the time came to identify a sponsor, the program utilized sports marketing company Learfield. The company vetted several potential sponsors with Edward Jones being the one Duke believed was the best fit after learning about it.
The process for a court sponsor began in late spring with "considerable discussion," according to King. University administration, like President Vincent Price, and athletic leadership were involved. Men's basketball coach Jon Scheyer and women's basketball coach Kara Lawson were informed as the process moved.
Top Stories
But, unsurprisingly, one of the first things Duke did was talk to Mike Krzyzewski. The court was dedicated and renamed for Krzyzewski in 2000 following his 500th career win. He retired in April 2022 and is an ambassador to the university.
"Coach understands the current landscape of college athletics and that we need to continue to evolve with it. And so he and his family were involved in discussions about the final appearance of Coach K Court," King said. "Obviously we are moving forward, so you can imagine how the discussions went."
Edward Jones' logo will only appear on Coach K Court. The hospitality area at Cameron Indoor is also being renamed to: "Duke Champions Club Presented by Edward Jones" as part of the deal.
Cameron Indoor Stadium opened in 1940 and consistently boasts a rowdy atmosphere with a simply designed court. But, the times are changing and now a sponsor is represented on a piece.
Duke's volleyball team rings in the court first on Sept. 8.
"It will [take time to get used to]. But we'll be OK," King said. "Change is OK."
