Aug. 6, 2008

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Staci Schottman, Director of Public Relations & Communications, 816-595-8116

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Rawlings Sporting Goods will continue to be the official supplier of baseballs, basketballs and footballs for the NAIA effective through December 2012.

"The NAIA is pleased to extend its relationship with Rawlings and is confident in its ability to provide superior products and exceptional customer service to our members, coaches and student-athletes," said Mike Campbell, NAIA Vice President for Marketing and Corporate Partnerships. "The NAIA would like to thank Rawlings for its continued interest in college athletics and dedication to the championship experience."

Rawlings has been an integral part of the NAIA since 1997 and will continue to provide   the official baseball, men's and women's basketball and football during national championship events. More specifically, the Rawlings Vision has been named the "Official Basketball of the NAIA," the Rawlings ST-5 will serve as the "Official Football of the NAIA" and the Rawlings R100 will be the "Official Baseball of the NAIA". Each official ball will feature the NAIA logo. In addition to its official ball status, Rawlings will award coach of the year honors for each NAIA-sponsored sport. To enhance brand loyalty, Rawlings Sporting Goods has partnered with the NAIA to create an advisory board to encourage dialogue on product development and promotion.

"The fact that top performing players use Rawlings' high-performance products means a lot to us," said Mike Thompson, Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing and New Business Development for Rawlings Sporting Goods. "Supporting their needs, and that of the NAIA, is a tradition we're proud to uphold. We'll also continue to foster relationships with NAIA staff, coaches and student-athletes to promote and enhance the collegiate sporting experience."

Rawlings and the NAIA share a passion for character-driven intercollegiate athletics. To learn more about Rawlings Sporting Goods and products, visit www.rawlings.com. 

NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.

Rawlings Sporting Goods
Rawlings is the leading marketer and manufacturer of baseball equipment and other sporting goods in the United States. Rawlings is the official Baseball and Helmet of Major League Baseball and the official ball of the NAIA and NCAA baseball championships. Rawlings is also the official basketball of the NAIA, NJCAA, AAU and many other organizations as well as the official football of the NAIA. Rawlings is also the official basketball, football, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer ball of the National High School Federation.