Palomar Becomes First Company to Partner with SDSU, UC San Diego & USD in Citywide Collegiate Athletics Agreement

First-of-its-kind agreement names Palomar the Official Specialty Insurance Partner & Official Volunteerism Partner of all three athletic departments, pairing market-wide visibility with student-athlete community engagement initiatives.

SAN DIEGO, CA (FEB. 19, 2026) – The athletic departments at San Diego State University (SDSU), the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego), and the University of San Diego (USD) today announced a new multiyear partnership with San Diego-based specialty insurance company Palomar Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLMR) (“Palomar”). Under the agreement, Palomar becomes the Official Specialty Insurance Partner and Official Volunteerism Partner of all three athletic departments, marking the first partnership of its kind to unite San Diego’s collegiate sports programs under a single corporate partner.

The agreement was formalized with an intimate celebration at Palomar’s headquarters on Wednesday, February 18, bringing together the athletic directors from the three universities, Palomar’s CEO and senior marketing team, and select student-athletes recognized for their exceptional commitment to service. The event highlighted the shared values of leadership and community engagement that form the foundation of this landmark partnership.

“Palomar is proud to serve as the first Founding Partner of the One San Diego platform,” said Mac Armstrong, Chairman and CEO of Palomar. “This unique partnership reflects our deep commitment to the San Diego community and to supporting the development, success, and service of local student athletes.”

The partnership was facilitated by JMI Sports – the exclusive multimedia rights partner for the athletic departments at SDSU, UC San Diego, and USD – and marks the inaugural Founding Partner agreement under its One San Diego platform.

One San Diego was created to offer corporate partners a consistent, market-wide approach to engage with San Diego’s premier collegiate athletics programs, while creating incremental value for each university. The platform complements existing single-school partnerships, expanding how athletic departments within the city can collaborate for collective growth in today’s evolving college sports landscape.

“As a San Diego-based company, we are constantly looking for ways to support our local universities during one of the most competitive eras in college athletics,” said Erik Judson, Co-Founder and CEO of JMI Sports. “We believe the strongest college sports markets are built by investing in both individual programs and the region as a whole. One San Diego reflects this belief by bringing SDSU, UC San Diego, and USD together through shared opportunity, while preserving the unique identity and partnerships of each institution. Partnering with Palomar to deliver upon their market objectives allows us to elevate San Diego collegiate athletics through a platform that expands engagement and drives collective momentum.”

Central to the agreement are Days of Service, a series of collaborative programs where student-athletes from all three schools join forces to address critical community needs. These cross-campus initiatives empower student-athletes to drive broader impact through partnerships with:

• Positive Coaching Alliance: After completing leadership and coaching training, student-athletes will lead sports clinics for children, providing mentorship while teaching teamwork and sportsmanship.
• Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank: Student-athletes will volunteer to sort and distribute meals, supporting families facing food insecurity across the county.
• Surfrider Foundation: Teams will participate in hands-on beach cleanups, removing debris along San Diego’s coastline while educating local youth on ocean conservation and sustainable practices.
• Rob Machado Foundation: Participants will help distribute reusable water bottles to elementary and middle school students, delivering interactive lessons on recycling, water conservation, and environmental responsibility.
• San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House: Student-athletes will prepare home-cooked meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, providing comfort and support to children and families during treatment.

“We are grateful to be part of a partnership that brings together student‑athletes from across San Diego to make a meaningful impact in our community,” said Casey Castillo, CEO at the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “Their commitment to serving families facing food insecurity reflects the very best of our region. Collaborations like this not only strengthen our ability to meet growing needs but also inspire the next generation of leaders who understand the power of service.”

+++

ABOUT PALOMAR HOLDINGS, INC.

Palomar Holdings, Inc. is the holding company of subsidiaries Palomar Specialty Insurance Company (“PSIC”), Palomar Specialty Reinsurance Company Bermuda Ltd. (“PSRE”), Palomar Insurance Agency, Inc., Palomar Excess and Surplus Insurance Company (“PESIC”), Palomar Underwriters Exchange Organization, Inc. (“PUEO”), First Indemnity of America Insurance Co. (“FIA”), Palomar Crop Insurance Services, Inc. (“PCIS”), and Palomar Casualty and Surety Company (“PCSC”), formerly known as The Gray Casualty & Surety Company. Palomar’s consolidated results also include Laulima Exchange (“Laulima”), a variable interest entity for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Palomar is an innovative specialty insurer serving residential and commercial clients in five product categories: Earthquake, Inland Marine and Other Property, Casualty, Fronting, and Crop. Palomar’s insurance subsidiaries, PSIC, PSRE, PESIC, and FIA have a financial strength rating of “A” (Excellent) from A.M. Best and PCSC has a financial strength rating of “A-” (Excellent) from A.M. Best.

ABOUT JMI SPORTS

JMI Sports is a leading media rights and venue development company that provides management of collegiate multimedia rights, sponsorship sales agency representation, and project management expertise for the development of collegiate and professional sports facilities. The company serves to maximize each client’s economic potential through customized initiatives, from marketing and branding solutions to facility design strategies.

JMI Sports’ signature collegiate multimedia rights partnerships include the University of Kentucky, the University of Utah, UCLA, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Pittsburgh, Harvard University, DePaul University, Columbia University, San Diego State University, University of California at San Diego, University of San Diego, and joint-venture properties at the University of Georgia (with Learfield) and University of Notre Dame (with Legends). JMI Sports also represents multimedia rights for several conferences, including the Ivy League, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Patriot League, and the Atlantic 10, and serves as third-party sales representation for premier sports properties, venues, and events including Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, the Rose Bowl, the Penn Relays, and USA Volleyball.

JMI Sports was founded in 2006 by CEO Erik Judson and technology entrepreneur John Moores, former owner of the San Diego Padres. To learn more, please visit www.jmisports.com.