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The first mens hockey program at a historically black college or university could be shuttered before it even plays a game unless funding is secured over the next month.
Tennessee State University President Dwayne Tucker told The Athletic on Friday that the university is still working to acquire funds to cover costs for the mens hockey program.
The program was announced in June 2023 at that years NHL Draft in Nashville, Tenn.
Created in partnership with the Nashville Predators, the program was intended to begin play as a club team for the 2024-25 season.
The program later pushed its inaugural season to 2026 while working to obtain sufficient financial backing.
Advertisement Tucker told The Athletic that the university needs funding to ensure the hockey programs viability for at least five years or more, accounting for operational costs and scholarships.
The school president added that a final decision could be coming in the next 30 days or so.
I can tell you were not going to move forward with a hockey program if the sustainable funding is not there, Tucker said.
Because if you flip back over to the university side, unfortunately, theres no funds through 2030 that we can provide to a start-up program.
Tucker became interim president of TSU in December 2024 as the school was mired in financial hardship.
TSUs previous interim president, Ronald A.
Johnson, noted in a letter written that month that the school had a negative cash balance of $18 million and an overall deficit of $52 million for the 2025 fiscal year.
A financial audit for the 2024 fiscal year stated the universitys previous management, led by the now-retired Glenda Glover, lacked appropriate oversight, leading to errors in the schools financial statements, deficiencies in oversight of federal programs and inadequate daily operations.
TSU has limited spending in recent years, but Tucker said Friday the school is still dealing with a $35 million deficit that is projected to become $25 million in the next fiscal year.
If the schools financial situation continues to trend upward, TSU could be out of the red by 2030.
Still, Tucker says there are more pressing needs at TSU than a new hockey program, including outdated student dorms and the aging on-campus football stadium.
The school is scheduled to announce a two-year, $100 million fundraising initiative to help improve those facilities.
We need that money to help fix some of the modernization that needs to take place on the campus, not another sport that couldnt be standing on its own, Tucker said.
You cant have your alumni and everybody else competing on fundraising for two different things.
Earlier this spring, six of the schools coaches signed a letter of no confidence in athletic director Mikki Allen that was sent to Tucker.
In the letter, the coaches expressed concerns over Allens leadership and management of the athletic department.
Tucker told The Tennessean that the complaints toward Allen would be reviewed.
Advertisement TSU mens hockey coach Duante Abercrombie said operating costs for NCAA Division I teams vary between $900,000 and $3 million annually not including scholarships.
Despite the financial hurdle, Abercrombie expressed confidence that TSU mens hockey could be saved.
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.
This is something that is historic, and I believe that everybody involved wants to see happen, and the key at this point in time is alignment on the path going forward.
Predators chief marketing officer Bill Wickett told The Athletic that discussions are ongoing regarding funding for the mens hockey program.
Weve had very informative and productive conversations with the president and others at the university, 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.
Tucker declined to reveal other potential donors the school could solicit but said hed love to have the hockey program and make history.
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, Tucker said.
So, in that way, Im still working with the coach and other potential donors who can meet those financial requirements to cover that operational cost and scholarships, so that it can stand on its own for a period of time, until we work through these other financial challenges..