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Between scheming for the upcoming game and recruiting, it might seem like Kyle Whittingham doesn't have much time to think about his wardrobe.

But he does care what he wears — particularly now that Utah has re-upped with Under Armour for the next decade.

"It's been a great relationship," he said. "Our players love their stuff. It's been a complete win for our program. To continue that partnership is a positive in my eyes."

The Utes announced that it had come to terms with Under Armour last week,http://bit.ly/2d9Iw3K";> hammering out a deal valued at $65 million that runs from 2017 to 2027. The annual value of Utah's apparel deal will be upped from roughly $2.4 million in clothing and cash considerations to about $6.5 million, putting Utah in the top third of the Pac-12 in clothing deals.

Athletic director Chris Hill said the revenue Utah will receive from the deal — which will be increased since Utah already wears UA gear and plays with UA equipment and therefore needs no starting costs — was the "driving factor" of the negotiations and led the Utes to continue a partnership that has existed since 2008.

"It helps that we were one of the schools that went with Under Armour early on," Hill said. "We had to do our due diligence with the other companies. This will take care of our needs on the field, and allow us to continue a relationship we feel very good about and align ourselves with a very popular company."

Among the factors that Utah liked about Under Armour besides cold, hard cash: The Utes get personal attention from the company that they enjoy, including a variety of new products, and relatively frequent redesigns on uniforms. A UA rep can be spotted at many Utah football and basketball games, and accompanies the teams to postseason tournaments and events. Hill also mentioned Under Armour's commitment to research and design made the company an attractive partner.

That doesn't mean that everyone will be a fan.http://bit.ly/1VdKQ9r";> Some Utah athletes told the Tribune last year that they prefer Nike products, or grew up with a preference outside Under Armour — a relatively new power player in the market. Some football players, including Dominique Hatfield and Kylie Fitts, have tweeted (and since deleted) concerns about whether Under Armour cleats have contributed to foot injuries the team has suffered in recent years.

The Utes have looked into the question of whether foot injuries can be linked to UA footwear, but found no evidence of anything specific to the company. Lightweight footwear has become more popular in recent years, and Utah officials privately believe that there could be a link to foot injuries in that specific line of athletic wear.

Hill himself said to make any conclusive link on his own part would be "out of my league."

"I think it's been out there with several of the apparel companies with lightweight footwear," he said. "There's other people looking into it. I could never be in position to connect the product with an injury. It would not be productive. It's more of a medical question."

Being an Under Armour school http://bit.ly/1HyeP06";>gives coaches some sweet perks as well: Whittingham and Larry Krystkowiak annually travel with their wives to the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, hobnobbing with celebrities at UA CEO Kevin Plank's private party.

"There's been talk about some other event for football coaches in the Bahamas or something," Whittingham said. "I'm looking forward to that."

kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon