HBCU ORIGINAL
From the Pros to the Sidelines: How Former Athletes Are Shaping the Future of HBCUs
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have long been pillars of academic excellence and cultural legacy. Now, a powerful shift is happening across their athletic departments—former professional athletes are stepping into coaching roles, and their impact is being felt far beyond the scoreboard.
This is more than a trend—it’s a movement.
From the League to the Legacy
It all starts with the names we grew up watching under bright stadium lights—legends who are now pouring their experience back into Black institutions:
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Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, whose revolutionary run at Jackson State University reignited HBCU football’s relevance nationwide.
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DeSean Jackson, now playing a vital mentorship role at Delaware State University (DSU), equipping student-athletes with NFL insight and inspiration.
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Michael Vick, connecting with Norfolk State University (NSU) to provide leadership and national visibility.
And the list doesn’t stop there.
Former Pros Now Leading HBCU Programs
These elite athletes turned coaches are bringing championship mindsets, elite connections, and a deeper sense of purpose to HBCU sports programs:
🏀 Reggie Theus – Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at Bethune-Cookman University. A former NBA All-Star, Theus is building a foundation of excellence both on and off the court.
🏀 Reggie Theus also recently brought visibility to Fisk University by supporting HBCU athletics through outreach and program development.
🏀 Cynthia Cooper-Dyke – Hall of Famer and WNBA legend, now Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Texas Southern University. Her championship pedigree sets a high standard for female athletes.
🏀 Juan Dixon – Former NBA player and NCAA champion, served as Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Coppin State University, leading with passion and hometown pride.
🏈 Sean Gilbert – Former NFL Pro Bowler and now Head Football Coach at Livingstone College, bringing toughness and structure to the gridiron.
🏀 Laura Harper – Former WNBA player and NCAA champ, serving as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Coppin State University. She’s building a winning culture while mentoring strong, intelligent women.
🏀 Lindsey Hunter – Former NBA guard and champion, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Mississippi Valley State University, bringing pro-level standards to his squad.
🏀 George Lynch – Former NBA forward and UNC standout, now Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Clark Atlanta University. His leadership is helping student-athletes excel both athletically and academically.
🏀 Elaine Powell – Former WNBA star, now leading the charge as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Langston University. She’s creating fierce competitors on the hardwood.
🏈 Tyrone Wheatley – Former NFL running back and Michigan standout, now Head Football Coach at Morgan State University. Wheatley brings grit, leadership, and recruiting vision to the Bears.
🏀 Maurice “Mo” Williams – NBA Champion and now Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Alabama State University. Williams is building a powerhouse through player development and discipline.
Why This Matters
This influx of former pro athletes into HBCU coaching roles is transformative:
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Recruiting Power: High school athletes are more likely to choose HBCUs when coached by names they admire.
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National Attention: Media and sponsors are tuning in, bringing money, recognition, and momentum to Black college programs.
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Career Development: These coaches bring industry insight, guiding student-athletes on paths that extend far beyond the game.
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Cultural Upliftment: These leaders are restoring pride in HBCU athletics, rooted in community and excellence.
It’s Bigger Than the Game
These coaches aren’t just chasing championships—they’re shaping futures. They’re turning overlooked programs into powerhouses and giving Black athletes an opportunity to thrive within their own culture. They’re proving that HBCUs are not just a stepping stone, but a destination for greatness.
Their message is clear: You don’t have to go elsewhere to be seen, respected, or developed. You can do it right here—at an HBCU.
Final Word: Building Legacy Through Leadership
From Deion Sanders to Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Reggie Theus to Tyrone Wheatley, these former pros are rewriting the script for HBCU athletics. They’re not just coaching—they’re cultivating a culture of confidence, excellence, and possibility.
This is how we change the game.
This is how we invest in our future.
This is how we win.
🏅 HBCU Stars Shine in Eugene at NCAA 2025
The 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships brought the best of the best to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon—and HBCU athletes rose to the occasion. Here’s how they placed in the finals:
🥉 Jordan Pierre (University of Arkansas‑Pine Bluff)
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Event: Men’s 400 m
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Final Placement: 3rd Place – 45.75 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America
💪 Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State University)
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Event: Men’s 400 m Hurdles
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Final Placement: 9th Overall
🥉 Marcia Sey (Howard University)
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Event: Women’s 100 m Hurdles
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Final Placement: 3rd Place – 12.93 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America and highest NCAA finish in Howard’s track history
🏃♀️ Howard Women’s 4×100 m Relay
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Team Members: Kailei Collins, Marcia Sey, Tiffani‑Rae Pittman, Aiyana Gray‑Williams
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Final Placement: 6th Place – 43.23 seconds
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Achievement: First Team All‑America
📊 Quick Recap
| Athlete / Team | Event | Final Result | Honors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Pierre (UAPB) | 400 m | 🥉 3rd Place | First Team All-America |
| Jarrett Gentles (Coppin State) | 400 m Hurdles | 9th Place | – |
| Marcia Sey (Howard) | 100 m Hurdles | 🥉 3rd Place – 12.93s | First Team All-America |
| Howard 4×100 Relay | 4×100 m | 6th Place – 43.23s | First Team All-America |
📍 Breakdown: 26 Cities with Major Juneteenth Celebrations
Southeast:
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Atlanta, GA – Huge parade, live music, family zone
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Memphis, TN – Festival on the Mississippi + fireworks
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Orlando, FL – Juneteenth 5K & educational symposiums
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Charlotte, NC – Vendor village + youth storytelling
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New Orleans, LA – Food, music, culture by the bayou
Northeast:
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Philadelphia, PA – Historic AAMP exhibits & gospel showcase
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Baltimore, MD – Spoken word, storytelling & street festival
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New York, NY – Broadway block party + family market
Midwest:
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Chicago, IL – Annual Juneteenth Parade & picnic
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Detroit, MI – Wellness walks, cultural talks, food trucks
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Cleveland, OH – Outdoor movie night + music
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St. Louis, MO – Educational workshops + parade
South:
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Houston, TX – Celebrating at historic Emancipation Park
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Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum block party & poetry
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Birmingham, AL – Health & wealth expos
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Jackson, MS – Family freedom fest + Black-owned vendors
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Louisville, KY – Parade + Black Wall Street event
West Coast & Beyond:
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Los Angeles, CA – Grand Park celebration, Black culture exhibits
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Oakland, CA – Freedom Festival & economic empowerment fair
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San Francisco, CA – Parade across Fillmore
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Denver, CO – Street fair, live jazz, unity march
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Seattle, WA – Community rally & soul food
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Phoenix, AZ – HBCU alumni cookout & music
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Minneapolis, MN – Youth dance & spoken word
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Columbus, OH – Citywide Juneteenth march
🎓 HBCUs at the Center
Many of these celebrations include HBCU marching bands, alumni chapters, student orgs, and vendor booths. From performances to education panels, HBCUs continue to be pillars in preserving the legacy of Juneteenth.
🔗 Join the Movement
📷 Tag @THEHBCUORIGINAL
🏷️ Hashtags: #HBCUJuneteenth #Juneteenth2025 #BlackFreedom
Juneteenth—short for June Nineteenth—is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with federal troops and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people were free.
For the estimated 250,000 Black people still enslaved in Texas, this was the first time they were told of their freedom. While freedom had been the law since January 1, 1863, it wasn’t enforced in remote Confederate states like Texas until Union troops physically arrived.
But Juneteenth is more than a date.
It’s a spiritual and cultural milestone. It represents:
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Delayed justice, but not denied dignity.
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A collective awakening to freedom.
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The beginning of a new fight—for land, civil rights, and equity.
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The power of Black resilience, community, and culture.
Since its origin, Juneteenth has evolved from small family cookouts and church gatherings into nationwide celebrations filled with festivals, education, music, and activism. In 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday, a testament to generations of Black voices demanding that America remember and respect this part of its history.
Juneteenth and Slavery in Texas
In Texas, slavery had continued as the state experienced no large-scale fighting or significant presence of Union troops. Many enslavers from outside the Lone Star State had moved there, as they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery.
After the war came to a close in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people. Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone—in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.
The year following 1865, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19. In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities, and as Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread.
Published by HBCU Original | June 13, 2025
Under Armour is giving HBCU pride a fashionable step forward with its latest sneaker drop and campaign celebrating Black sisterhood, Greek life, and the vibrant legacy of Maryland’s historically Black colleges.
For the launch of its newest lifestyle sneaker, the UA Echo, Under Armour partnered with Baltimore native and award-winning photographer Devin Allen to shoot the “Sisterhood in Style” campaign. The powerful visuals were brought to life on the campuses of Bowie State University and Morgan State University, spotlighting women from the first Black Greek-letter sorority in bold, expressive styles.
More than a simple product release, “Sisterhood in Style” tells a deeper story—one of culture, community, and representation. The campaign highlights tradition and individuality, showing how today’s HBCU students are redefining style on their own terms.
“More than a product spotlight, Sisterhood in Style reflects UA’s broader commitment to innovation and community—empowering the next generation to show up boldly, break boundaries, and define their own style codes,” Under Armour shared in a press release.
The new UA Echo sneaker, designed in a striking pink and green colorway, is now available online for $150—a clear nod to the heritage of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
This campaign continues Under Armour’s connection to local education institutions. Last fall, the brand also gave back to Baltimore City College and Baltimore Polytechnic Institute by donating to their athletic programs and creating custom school merchandise.
With “Sisterhood in Style,” Under Armour isn’t just releasing a sneaker—it’s recognizing the beauty, strength, and cultural impact of Black women at HBCUs. And that’s a story worth walking in.
#HBCUOriginal #SisterhoodInStyle #BowieState #MorganState #UnderArmour #BlackExcellence #GreekLife
June 10, 2025 | Eugene, Oregon
Florida A&M’s standout middle-distance runner, Kirk Dawkins, is headed to the big stage as he prepares to compete in the 800-meter semifinals at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships this Wednesday. The race will take place at 8:58 p.m. EST at the legendary Hayward Field, located on the campus of the University of Oregon.
Catch the action live on ESPN.
Dawkins earned his spot at nationals by running a personal-best time of 1:46.62 at the NCAA East Regional quarterfinals—an impressive mark that solidifies his status among the elite in collegiate track.
This season has been a breakout year for the FAMU junior. He claimed the SWAC Outdoor Championship title in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.2 and followed that up with a strong 1:48.01 showing at the East Coast Relays. His steady improvement and commitment to excellence are paying off as he heads into the national spotlight.
All eyes will be on Dawkins Wednesday night as he looks to continue his historic season and represent Florida A&M on the national stage.
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