CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) has announced its first conference-wide partnership with long-standing partner Hercules Tires. Hercules Tires and WAC student-athletes will partner during the month of May for Mental Health Awareness Month to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in the lives of student-athletes.
As part of the campaign, WAC student-athletes will highlight their own thoughts on mental health and how mental health motivates them as athletes on the WAC social media platforms.
"Today, we proudly announce Hercules Tires' groundbreaking partnership with the Western Athletic Conference, marking a historic milestone for both organizations,” said Nakia Medlin, Sr. Director of Marketing Hercules Tires. “As we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month, we are committed to championing the well-being of student-athletes. Together, we embark on a journey to raise awareness about the vital significance of mental health not only in student-athletes but young people in general. This partnership signifies our shared dedication to fostering a supportive environment where student-athletes thrive both on and off the field. Through our collaboration, we aim to empower and inspire, igniting conversations that promote understanding, empathy, and resilience. Let us stand united in breaking barriers and nurturing a culture where mental health is prioritized, celebrated, and supported."
"We are appreciative of the efforts that our long-term partner Hercules Tires have already made to assist WAC student-athletes, particularly through our annual basketball tournaments,” WAC Commissioner
Brian Thornton said. “This expanded initiative during Mental Health Awareness Month will empower all WAC student-athletes to share their stories, gain inspiration and work to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and wellbeing. We thank Hercules for their willingness to partner with the WAC on such an important and worthwhile campaign."
The NIL opportunity across all WAC member institutions is the latest innovative partnership between Hercules Tires and the WAC in the college athletics world. Hercules Tires serves as the Official Tire of the WAC and title sponsor of the annual men’s and women’s basketball championship tournaments that take place in Las Vegas each March.
About The Western Athletic Conference
With its conference headquarters located in Arlington, Texas, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) has enjoyed longstanding success in collegiate athletics since its formation in 1962. Presently, the WAC crowns champions in 19 sports – nine men’s and 10 women’s championships. In 1995, the WAC became the first conference nationwide to have an exclusive broadcast contract with ESPN for football and basketball games, forming a partnership that continues to the present day with more than 1,000 WAC-affiliated live games and events available annually on ESPN’s digital and linear platforms. WAC member institutions have won 35 team national championships since the conference’s inception.
About Hercules Tires
Hercules Tires is widely recognized as the industry's premier value brand with a comprehensive selection of passenger, UHP, light truck, medium truck and specialty tires. Since 1952, independent tire dealers and distributors have trusted Hercules to deliver outstanding quality, exceptional support, and unsurpassed value.
Hercules is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, Inc. American Tire Distributors is one of the largest independent suppliers of tires in the North American replacement tire market. The company offers an unsurpassed breadth and depth of inventory, frequent delivery and value-added services to approximately 80,000 customers across the U.S. and Canada.
To follow Hercules Tires activations, search @HerculesTires on Facebook, X and Instagram.