What was once celebrated as a groundbreaking step for both college athletics and diversity in hockey is now facing an uncertain future. Tennessee State University officials are evaluating whether the institution can move forward with its planned NCAA Division I men’s hockey program, raising the possibility that the historic initiative could end before the team ever takes the ice.
TSU Interim President Dwayne Tucker recently confirmed that the university is reviewing the viability of the program and could make a final decision within the next month if long-term financial support cannot be secured.
“I can tell you we’re not going to move forward with a hockey program if the sustainable funding is not there,” Tucker said. “Unfortunately, there’s no funds through 2030 that we can provide to a start-up program.”
The announcement marks the latest challenge for a program that was originally unveiled with great fanfare in June 2023 during the NHL Draft in Nashville. The initiative was hailed nationally as a landmark moment because Tennessee State would become the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to sponsor an NCAA Division I hockey program.
The effort was launched through a partnership involving Tennessee State University, the National Hockey League, the Nashville Predators and College Hockey, Inc. The program quickly attracted attention from across the hockey world as a potential model for expanding participation and diversity within the sport.
However, financial realities have continued to delay the dream.
The Tigers were initially scheduled to begin competition as a club team during the 2024-25 season before eventually transitioning into NCAA Division I competition. Those plans were later postponed, with the university announcing in July 2025 that the inaugural season would be moved to 2026-27.
At the time, university leaders described the delay as a strategic decision designed to strengthen fundraising efforts, recruiting, staffing and long-term planning. Tucker said then that additional time would help ensure the program launched from a position of financial stability.
Now, less than a year before the revised debut date, university officials are acknowledging that significant funding challenges remain.
According to Tucker, Tennessee State needs commitments that would fund both operational expenses and athletic scholarships for at least five years before the university can confidently move forward.
“We need that money to help fix some of the modernization that needs to take place on the campus, not another sport that couldn’t be standing on its own,” Tucker said.
The university’s concerns stem largely from its broader financial situation. TSU has spent several years working to overcome major budget deficits. Former Interim President Ronald A. Johnson reported in late 2024 that the university faced a negative cash balance of approximately $18 million and an overall fiscal year deficit of $52 million.
While university leaders say the financial picture has improved, challenges remain. Tucker recently noted that TSU is still managing a deficit estimated at $35 million, although that figure is expected to decline to approximately $25 million during the next fiscal year. If progress continues, university officials believe Tennessee State could eliminate its deficit by the end of the decade.
At the same time, the institution faces significant infrastructure needs.
Among the university’s top priorities are improvements to aging residence halls and renovations to historic Hale Stadium. To address those projects, Tennessee State is preparing to launch a two-year, $100 million fundraising campaign focused on campus modernization.
Given those competing needs, Tucker says any hockey program must be able to sustain itself financially without drawing resources away from core university priorities.
Despite the uncertainty, those involved with the hockey initiative remain hopeful.
Head Coach Duante’ Abercrombie, who was hired in 2024 to lead the Tigers, expressed confidence that partners involved in the project can still find a path forward.
“I have faith in the Nashville Predators, I have faith in the NHL,” Abercrombie said. “And more importantly, I have faith in my institution that they will find a path forward that is positive for the hockey program.”
Abercrombie acknowledged that operating a Division I hockey program is expensive. Annual costs can range from approximately $900,000 to $3 million before scholarship expenses are even considered.
The Nashville Predators also remain committed to exploring solutions.
“We’ve had very informative and productive conversations with the president and others at the university,” Predators Chief Marketing Officer Bill Wickett said. “We understand all of the priorities and opportunities in front of Tennessee State, but we remain hopeful that Division I hockey will still be played in Nashville in the future.”
The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have supported the project through the Industry Growth Fund, a program designed to promote participation and long-term growth within the sport.
College Hockey, Inc. has likewise continued to champion the initiative, citing its potential impact on both college athletics and hockey’s efforts to expand opportunities for underrepresented communities.
For now, the future of TSU hockey remains undecided.
Tucker says he would welcome the opportunity to make history and bring NCAA Division I hockey to Tennessee State, but only if the program can be built on a financially secure foundation.
“I’d love to have the hockey program and make history,” Tucker said. “But it has to be a stand-alone program in terms of the funding to make it work, because of the bigger financial challenges that the university has.”
As fundraising efforts continue, supporters of the program hope additional donors and corporate partners will step forward. Until then, the future of what could have been the nation’s first NCAA hockey program at an HBCU remains hanging in the balance.
