Santa Barbara, CA - The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and Nelligan Sports Marketing (NSM) have signed a multi-year agreement which gives NSM exclusive representation of UCSB's marketing rights and athletic sponsorships.

"Nelligan Sports has proven to be a leader in the industry. We are excited to partner with them as we launch our Dare To Be Great initiative," said UCSB's Director of Athletics, Mark Massari.

"We are thrilled to be adding UCSB to the NSM family," said NSM Executive Vice President, Mike Palisi. "The Gaucho athletic program, under the leadership of Mark Massari and his administrative team, is on course for unprecedented growth and success. We are confident that the positioning of the athletic program, combined with the outstanding tradition and reputation of the University as a whole, and the strength of the Santa Barbara market, present tremendous partnership opportunities for Corporate America. We look forward to being a partner with the University for many years to come and to play a role in what promises to an exceptional future."

UCSB ranks among higher education leaders in the United States and Canada as one of only 62 research-intensive institutions elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. UCSB's renowned faculty includes five winners of Nobel Prizes for landmark research in chemistry, physics and economics and scores of elected members of national and international academies and societies. US News and World Report's guide, "America's Best Colleges," the most widely read college guide in the country, ranks UCSB number 12 among all public universities. UCSB Gaucho Athletics compete at the NCAA's highest level (Division I) in 10 men's sports and 10 women's sports and is a member of the prestigious Big West Conference.

Nelligan Sports Marketing, Inc. provides sales and marketing expertise for sports properties worldwide. NSM is dedicated to building long-term relationships with clients through exceptional management of the properties represented and by maximizing revenue growth through their corporate relationships. In addition to UCSB, NSM represents some of the elite college properties in the country, including the Colonial Athletic Association and its 12-member institutions , the Horizon League, the Pac-10 Conference, the Patriot League, Brown University, Colorado State University, Eastern Michigan University, Fairfield University, Florida Atlantic University, Indiana State University, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne, University of Louisville, Marquette University, Middle Tennessee State University, Monmouth University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Providence College, Rutgers University, West Virginia University, University of Wisconsin at Green Bay, the Champs Sports Bowl, the Capital One Bowl and the Penn Relays. For more information about Nelligan Sports Marketing, please visit www.nelligansports.com.