Werner is proud to once again stand at the heart of an unforgettable college basketball tradition – the net-cutting ceremonies that celebrate the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Regional and National Championships. As part of the annual tradition, Werner creates exclusive Podium Ladders built specifically for the NCAA games. Engineered with the players and coaches in mind, the Werner Ladders feature wider rungs, a larger platform and higher guardrails to accommodate varying heights, weights and shoe sizes, delivering unmatched safety and confidence when it matters most. Watching these inspirational athletes and coaches climb the ladder to cut down the nets continues to be a great moment of pride for the entire Werner team.

“March Madness represents the defining moments of college basketball and Werner is honored to provide the ladder that champions climb,” said Stacy Gardella, Head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at ProDriven. “As an industry leader trusted worldwide, our involvement starts months in advance by building each custom ladder with care and precision. From design to delivery, every part of our NCAA partnership reflects the scale, pride and energy our team brings to this celebrated experience,” continued Gardella.

Engineered for Champions: Werner’s Custom Podium Ladder

While fans may see just one ladder during the final moments of March Madness, behind the scenes, Werner is building and delivering nearly 100 customized ladders nationwide. Sixty Ladders are distributed across select conference championships, as well as the Division I, Division II and Division III Men’s and Women’s Regional and National Championship Games. The remaining 40 ladders – used to support facility operations and local community programming – are donated to local YMCAs, host schools and event facilities.

As champion teams ascend these iconic ladders, scissors in hand, the Werner brand proudly appears across national broadcast, digital and print media. What began as a small tradition in the 1940s has evolved into a time-honored ritual and Werner is honored to help elevate it – one rung at a time.

Werner is bringing the net-cutting magic straight to the fans with a one-of-a-kind experiential ladder tour in NCAA championship host cities. At select, in-person events, fans can get up and close with the Werner Podium Ladders, snap photos, and even enter to win exclusive memorabilia. By tagging @wernersafetyaboveall or using the hashtag #WernerMadness on Facebook, Instagram or X, fans can be a part of the celebration. After the tour wraps, the winning school can triumphantly display the Championship Werner Ladder on campus.

Championships Begin with Great Coaches

Werner proudly continues its support of the sport’s coaching excellence through ongoing sponsorships of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and the prestigious Naismith Awards for Men’s and Women’s College Coach of the Year. As a title sponsor of the Naismith Awards since 2017, Werner celebrates these coaches whose leadership shapes the winning teams and the student-athletes across the country. For the 2025 season, four finalists have been named for each award, with ceremonies being held in Tampa on April 2 and San Antonio on April 6.

The NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four games and National Championship will take place in Tampa, Fla., on April 4-6, while the NCAA® Division I Men’s Final Four games and National Championship will be held in San Antonio on April 5-7.