UTSA athletics, Thomas J. Henry announce $250K jersey patch sponsorship

UTSA athletics has landed a jersey patch sponsor for men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball, as the school and Thomas J. Henry Law announced Tuesday a $250,000 sponsorship agreement for the 2026-27 athletic year.

The arrangement also involves a Roadrunners football component with signage in the Alamodome and Convocation Center, as well as a radio integration including Jeff Traylor's coaches show.

"For Thomas J. Henry to step up for this jersey sponsorship, we're so appreciative," UTSA athletics director Lisa Campos said. "Obviously, it's going to help us continue maximizing revenues and being competitive."

A change this year to NCAA rules enabled schools to sell jersey patch sponsorships for the first time, and UTSA now has four teams with arrangements, joining the soccer team's deal with area restaurant chain Las Palapas.

UTSA is one of just two schools in the American Conference with jersey patch sponsors for multiple sports, and the program's release noted UTSA is believed to be one of just four schools in Division I with multiple jersey patch sponsors.

The agreement announced Tuesday will see a white logo added to all navy jerseys and a navy logo placed on orange and white jerseys, creating a contrast to maximize visibility. Thomas J. Henry's announcement also included a sponsorship with Incarnate Word for a men's basketball jersey patch.

The arrangement with UTSA covers only the 2026-27 athletic year, but Thomas J. Henry's release said the firm "views the partnerships as the start of a long-term commitment to San Antonio's student-athletes and to the institutions that develop them."

"Our commitment goes beyond a logo on a jersey. We want to help these young men and women succeed on the court, on the field, and - just as importantly - off of it," owner Thomas J. Henry said in a statement. "The studies are clear: students who compete in athletics go on to become their generation's leaders. If we can play even a small role in that journey, we will have done something that matters."

UTSA coach Jeff Traylor called the new arrangement "an unbelievable help," noting that two other donors also stepped up to contribute to the program in the days since Saturday's 31-26 win against Texas State .

"It just reignites a belief I've always had in this place," Traylor said. "You can't believe the lie that we can't do it here. ... Anytime we almost think we're out of the fight, somebody steps up. If people could come just be in my locker room and see what we do for young men, they would help."

The Roadrunners are yet to land a jersey patch sponsor for football, and Campos said UTSA is continuing to be "very strategic" about finding a deal that will pay fair value for the new asset while meshing with the program's identity.

"That's the conversation amongst our industry, is that there is value to that, but you also want to have a partner that is going to fit who your vision is, what your values are, making the community proud," Campos said. "We continue to have active conversations for all of our sports."

Campos also provided an update on other initiatives in UTSA athletics, noting that the ribbon cutting on the new basketball and volleyball training facility is slated for next month.

A player development facility for baseball is next on the list, Campos said, with groundbreaking expected early in 2027. UTSA is working with architects on a similar facility for softball, and a planned nutrition center might be "further along," Campos said.

A covered practice pavilion for football remains on the docket of future projects, and Campos said donor intent could push any of the upcoming facilities to the front of the line.

"People see the value of Intercollegiate Athletics. They see the value of UTSA Athletics and they want to be a part of our brand," Campos said. "Over the years we've absolutely increased our brand value and because of that, we continue to see more and more partners coming on board with us."

The sponsorship with Thomas J. Henry arrives as UTSA prepares for a matchup Saturday with a Texas program that posted a record-setting total of about $375 million in athletics expenses - about seven times UTSA's mark of $53.4 million for fiscal 2025.

Asked how deals like Tuesday's help close the gap, Traylor shifted focus toward the effort to stay competitive with American Conference opponents and area rivals.

"We can't worry about Texas and Georgia right now. We've got to worry about Tulane, South Florida, Memphis, North Texas, Texas State," Traylor said. "We've got to worry about that tier. Let's conquer that. Let's get in the College Football Playoff. Then, let's go after that."