# UK Invests becomes official jersey patch partner for Kentucky football **Published:** 2026-09-04T18:15:05.000Z **Source:** [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/uk-athletics-announces-football-jersey-patch-partnership-with-uk-invests-to-champion-students-financial-well-being/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/uk-invests-becomes-official-jersey-patch-partner-for-kentucky-football LEXINGTON, Ky. — University of Kentucky Athletics announced on September 4 that it has partnered with [UK Invests](https://ukinvests.uky.edu), a student financial wellness program, to make the initiative the Official Jersey Patch Partner of Kentucky Football beginning with the team's game against Youngstown State on September 5. The [partnership announcement](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/uk-athletics-announces-football-jersey-patch-partnership-with-uk-invests-to-champion-students-financial-well-being/) comes as Head Coach [Will Stein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Stein) begins his first season leading the Wildcats. Stein, a Kentucky native whose father played football for UK, previously served as offensive coordinator at Oregon. UK Invests, launched in 2022, is a first-of-its-kind program that combines financial education with hands-on investment opportunities. According to the source material, more than 18,000 students have opened investment accounts through the program since its inception, earning nearly $3 million in university-funded rewards. Student investments are projected to exceed $9 million by the end of September. The program operates through partnerships with Fidelity Investments and financial education provider iGrad. Students can earn monetary rewards for completing financial education modules, attending career fairs, exercising at university facilities, and participating in other healthy behaviors. Starting this season, students will also earn rewards for attending select UK Athletics games. "A jersey patch is one of the most visible brand opportunities in college athletics, so fit matters," said J Batt, UK Athletics Director and Champions Blue CEO. "This is a program that has invested real dollars in UK students while encouraging healthy habits that prepare them for lives of meaning and purpose." UK President Eli Capilouto emphasized the program's alignment with the university's mission. "Our students are the future," Capilouto said. "UK Invests is an innovative way that we give students the tools they need, from Day 1, to prepare for their careers, a sustainable and strong financial future, and for lives of meaning and purpose." The partnership will be promoted through multimedia activations including Kroger Field signage, videoboards, radio and television inventory, and in-game features highlighting student participants. JMI Sports, UK Athletics' exclusive multimedia rights partner, will manage the promotional strategy. ## Sources - [UK Athletics](https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/uk-athletics-announces-football-jersey-patch-partnership-with-uk-invests-to-champion-students-financial-well-being/) - [UK Invests official program website](https://ukinvests.uky.edu) - [Information about Head Coach Will Stein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Stein) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from UK Athletics, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://ukathletics.com/news/2026/09/04/uk-athletics-announces-football-jersey-patch-partnership-with-uk-invests-to-champion-students-financial-well-being/.