Tennessee athletics has announced a landmark partnership, naming Knoxville-based Axle Logistics as its first official jersey patch partner. Under this five-year agreement, Axle Logistics will feature prominently as the official jersey patch sponsor for both Tennessee men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Founded by Tennessee alumni, Axle Logistics has grown into one of the largest employers of UT graduates, playing a pivotal role in supporting the university’s alumni network and strengthening ties within the Knoxville community. This unique partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship, featuring a substantial investment in student-athlete influencer marketing initiatives. These initiatives will empower student-athletes to build their personal brands, expand their professional networks, and gain valuable hands-on experience in the realms of marketing and business development.
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Axle Logistics is a non-asset based, third-party logistics (3PL) company with a focus on facilitating advanced logistics services – Truckload, LTL, Intermodal, and Warehousing – to a wide variety of customers throughout the continental U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
“From the onset of our journey to find the right partner in this evolving landscape, it was essential that we align with an organization that not only leads its field, but also embodies innovation, integrity, and a commitment to community. We found all of that in Axle Logistics,” said Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Danny White. “Axle’s reputation for operational excellence and customer service has propelled them to the forefront of the logistics industry—not just in Knoxville, but across the nation. Their investments in technology and their dedication to supporting both employees and the broader community make them an ideal collaborator for Tennessee athletics.”
The first time Tennessee men’s basketball will wear a jersey with the Axle Logistics patch in a game will be an exhibition matchup against Xavier on Oct. 15 at Food City Center. The Lady Vols‘ debut with the jersey patch is set for an exhibition contest against Florida A&M on Oct. 27.
“Great athletic programs and great organizations are built on the same foundation: talent, teamwork, preparation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Axle co-founders Jon Clay and Drew Johnson. “That’s why this first-of-its-kind partnership with the University of Tennessee is so meaningful to Axle. By connecting with a program that develops leaders on and off the court, we’re creating opportunities to support student-athletes, strengthen our workforce pipeline, and invest in the next generation of high performers who understand what it takes to succeed.”
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This partnership was facilitated in collaboration with the Vol Network, a division of Learfield, the multimedia rightsholder for Tennessee athletics.
“We’re proud to assist in the Tennessee men’s and women’s basketball jersey patch partnership with Axle Logistics, a company with roots in Knoxville, and a longtime partner of Tennessee Athletics,” said Brandon Parks, Vice President and General Manager of the Vol Network. “This is the perfect partnership between two powerhouse brands in the state of Tennessee that will make a significant impact on Tennessee Athletics and our student-athletes.”
The agreement spans five years, underscoring the significance and long-term vision of the partnership between Tennessee Athletics and Axle Logistics.
“As a company based in Knoxville and founded by Tennessee alums, Axle Logistics is the perfect brand for us to align with,” said Vols men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes. “We are pleased to partner with a group that truly understands what it means to be a Volunteer. There is no doubt this agreement will greatly benefit our basketball program. We appreciate Danny White and the Vol Network finding us such a tremendous partner in this ever-changing era of college athletics.”
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“We are grateful to Axle Logistics for its incredible commitment to Tennessee basketball and for the impact this partnership will have on current and future Lady Vols,” said Kim Caldwell, women’s basketball coach. “I’m also thankful for the vision of Danny White and the Vol Network in uniting us with an innovative, locally-based company built by UT alums who operate with the same core principles we do. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be teammates with Axle.”
