The top division of NCAA hockey is gaining a new face for the first time in a few years. After beginning a feasibility study four years ago, Tennessee State University reaffirmed that it’s sponsoring a Division I men’s hockey program, which will begin play in the 2026-27 season. That was the initial plan, although they’re reverting to it now after previously attempting to launch DI play for the 2025-26 campaign.
The school began to ice a club hockey team in 2024-25 and will presumably do so again this year instead of making the jump to the top flight. Unlike recent new DI programs like Augustana and Lindenwood, there is no history of ACHA – a collegiate hockey association roughly equivalent to NCAA DIII play – representation at TSU. In this case, the program is truly being built from scratch in a brief period.
Tennessee State, located in Nashville with a total enrollment of just 8,198, will be the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to introduce a DI hockey program, either men’s or women’s. In today’s announcement, Assistant Athletic Director Nick Guerriero stated that they’ve received a $ 250,000 grant from the NHL and NHLPA’s Industry Growth Fund, in addition to continued consultancy and support from the Predators and College Hockey, Inc.
While the club’s playing roster for its inaugural season isn’t yet secured, it does have its head coach. They tapped Duanté Abercrombie for the role in April 2024. The 28-year-old Washington, D.C. native previously worked as a development coach with the Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season and served as an assistant coach for Stevenson University’s Division III program in 2023-24.
Like Lindenwood, TSU is expected to begin its life as an independent program.
I’m dubious that this will actually get off the ground, as well intentioned as it might be.
link to tennessean.com
I guess when the NHL comes calling with a quarter-million dollars then you dance to their tune, but the prospect of actual competitive D1 hockey there does seem remote.
Applaud the effort, but I don’t see it lasting even if they do play a few seasons. I genuinely think some larger, big time schools will end up adding hockey in the near future though. You need to have two of three things, the cash, student body, and venue. I’m thinking schools like Duke, Vanderbilt, and even larger public schools like Texas and Central Florida should work. And all of these schools have the nearby initial access to venues that host ice hockey along with the money to support it. Throw in schools like Northwestern, USC, and UCLA. In 50 years I’d bet they all have D1 hockey programs.
I’ll wait and see but either way it is a big testament to the Predators organization and their impact as well. I very clearly remember when they were added to the NHL and scoffing at their chances of succeeding. Haven’t made that same mistake since (although would have been correct to do so for Phoenix).
Apples and Oranges. It’s brought good media attention to the University but we’re talking about the long term success and viability of NCAA D1 Ice Hockey at an HBCU.
Acha is not equivalent to NCAA D3. Good D3 teams would and have blown out good ACHA teams.
Most players who end up playing high level ACHA had D3 offers on the table.
Not so fast all you naysayers. We’ve had club hockey here in Tucson at the U of A for many years.The support here has been very good, aided by no professional sports teams here, although we have an AHL team, at least for now. Key ingredients for success are 1) Strong recruitment of players, 2) Good terms on a building lease, 3) Very good coach. Plus, I suspect the Preds will offer all kinds of different support, its in their best interest to do so.