ITASCA, Ill. — Werner is partnering with the NCAA® for a 13th year to provide custom ladders for the net-cutting ceremonies in both the Men’s and Women’s Regional and National Championship games. The special-edition Werner Podium Ladders used to cut down the nets are uniquely designed with wider rungs, a larger platform, and higher guardrail to accommodate taller athletes.

In the winning moment, when emotions are at their peak, Werner ladders are trusted to keep coaches and players safe as they leave the ground to climb the ladder of success and commemorate their victory by cutting down the nets.

“It will be wonderful to be back on the court again to celebrate safely together as we continue our partnership with the NCAA,” said Stacy Gardella, vice president of brand marketing at WernerCo. “We feel tremendous pride to be part of the winning moment while keeping these talented players and coaches safe as they ‘Step Up’ and cut down the nets, each and every year.”

The NCAA Division I Women’s Championship will take place in San Antonio, Texas on April 4, while the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship will take place in Indianapolis on April 5.

Maximizing Fan Access

This year, Werner is helping users reach more than just victorious heights by expanding fan access to the championships. The world leader in ladders is sponsoring ESPN’s broadcast of the Women’s Championship net-cutting ceremony and the Spanish language audio for the Final Four® broadcast on Westwood One.

Werner is also coming directly to fans with a ladder tour in each of the championship host cities. Fans can also get involved through social media for an opportunity to win a unique piece of memorabilia: a custom three-foot replica of the championship Werner Podium Ladder. Fans can participate in the contest by taking photos of themselves with the Werner Championship Podium Ladder, uploading to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, tagging @wernerladderco, and using the hashtag #OfficialLadderOf for a chance to win.

Supporting Great Coaches and Mentors

In addition to the tournament sponsorships, Werner will continue to partner with organizations that recognize and promote outstanding coaches and mentors. The company will reprise its role as title sponsor of the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s and Women’s College Coach of the Year awards. Werner has been the title sponsor for the Naismith Awards since 2017, which is presented annually to the men’s and women’s coaches who achieve outstanding on-court success.

Werner amplified the Coach of the Year program with a Naismith ‘Steps to Success’ series — a digital marketing program created in 2018 in conjunction with the Atlanta Tipoff Club, the organization that manages the Naismith Awards, to highlight successful coaches who have “climbed to the top.” These vignettes also highlight the relationships between players and the coaches who help them as they climb the ladder of life. Fans can also watch the spin off series, ‘Winners from the Past,’ which highlights notable past Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year winners, including Dawn Staley, Anthony Grant, and Jim Boeheim.