A black and gold cell phone will soon join the signature sunglasses and fashion line that football hall-of-fame player Deion Sanders, or Coach Prime as he is better known in Colorado, has put his brand on.
The head football coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes to promote the cellular service owned by DISH Wireless, based in Littleton. Some of the earliest customers claiming the phone might even see his number pop up for a quick call.
Starting April 19, Boost Mobile will offer an exclusive Coach Prime-branded Motorola razr phone both online and at its stores. The flip phone has a gold and black finish with his signature below his motivational phrase — “You Gotta Believe!”
Customers can buy the limited-edition phone, normally at $599.99, for $149.99 at BoostMobile.com. Or if they sign up in person for Boost Mobile’s Plan 2, the cost of the phone is covered in a plan costing $60 a month.
Boost Mobile customers who obtain the phone will also receive weekly motivational messages from Coach Prime and exclusive digital content. And some of those who sign up in the first month may receive a call from Sanders.
“I’m all about connectivity and baby, we got that! Itap been a blessing to spend the past couple of months getting to know this wonderful team. Learning what they’ve achieved, what they believe, and most importantly how they aspire to continue to push the envelope,” Sanders said in a news release announcing the partnership.
DISH deployed its large holdings of wireless spectrum and the latest cellular technology to construct a new nationwide 5G network from scratch following the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint.
But like the Buffs before the arrival of Coach Prime, the company has struggled with obtaining enough of a fan base, not to mention financing, to see the vision through. The company, better known for its satellite television service, is in dire need of a turnaround.
“I grew up watching Deion in Atlanta and am beyond thrilled to have Coach Prime on our team,” said Sean Lee, a senior vice president of consumer product and marketing at Boost Mobile, in the release. “Coach Prime is a proven leader who works hard, knows what it takes to win and is a strong community advocate.”
Sanders will be featured heavily in Boost Mobile’s advertising, marketing and social media campaigns and is heading up “Boost the Block,” which will include initiatives at fostering connections in local communities.
