Tennessee State to become first HBCU to start a men's hockey program
Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover puts on a hockey jersey during a news conference Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn. Credit: AP/George Walker IV
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Dr. Glenda Glover, the president of Tennessee State, was recounting how she had become aware of a youth hockey player who also wanted to attend a Historically Black College or University and was disappointed to find out none had programs.
That changed on Wednesday. Glover and Dr. Mikki Allen, Tennessee State’s athletic director, announced before the first round of the NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena the school would become the first HBCU to start a men’s hockey program, which will launch as a club team in 2024.
“Believe me, once we get this model launched for the world to see, there’s going to be HCBU presidents calling President Glenda Glover and she will definitely give them insight on how to do this,” Allen said.
The Tennessee State program was created in partnership with the NHL, the NHL Players’ Association and the Predators. The NHL and its players’ union in 2017 began sponsoring feasibility studies for U.S. colleges and universities interested in exploring the addition of Division I men’s and women’s programs. The Tennessee State study began in 2021.
Glover said Tennessee State also hoped to start a women’s hockey program. Allen projected 2026 or 2027 as a reasonable timeline for the Tennessee State men’s team to elevate to either Division I or Division II status.
“It’s just part of a continued commitment to provide TSU students with new opportunities,” Glover said. “To broaden the new interests in areas where they have traditionally had limited or no access.
“Our hockey program will create a new sports commitment. A new sports community within TSU, one that is more inclusive, more diverse. It is our hope that while TSU is the first HBCU to start ice hockey programs, we certainly won’t be the last.”
Tennessee State’s commitment to hockey follows a trend of HBCUs adding sports outside their more traditional offerings of football, basketball and track and field. The Associated Press reported that 20 HBCUs have added at least 42 NCAA championship or emerging sports since 2016, including 32 since 2020.
Last year, Fisk University became the first HBCU to offer women’s gymnastics and, this year, Morgan State will become the only HBCU with a Division I men’s wrestling program.
“From the NHL, we are extremely excited for this day,” said Kevin Westgarth, the league’s vice president of hockey development and strategic collaboration. “The goal of a lot of what I do and what we do at the NHL is just to continually increase the access and exposure for people and families to be able to see and take part in our sport.”
Allen said TSU would likely compete against local rivals Vanderbilt and Belmont, as well as schools from neighboring states.
TNT hockey analyst and former NHL player Anson Carter said Tennessee State starting a hockey program was a continuation of a grassroots effort to grow the sport.
“I couldn’t be more proud to have the hockey ecosystem start to expand,” Carter said. “This will give boys and girls across the U.S. and Canada another avenue to compete at the college level at its highest level.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
