Latest news with #DelawareState
Miami Herald
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
HBCU Wrestling: Kenya Sloan to Lead Delaware State Team
HBCU wrestling has reached a historic milestone. Kenya Sloan has been named head coach of Delaware State University's NCAA Division I women's wrestling team-the first of its kind at any historically Black college or university. She now leads more than a team. She leads a cultural shift in collegiate athletics. Sloan's wrestling journey began at age seven, inspired by her younger brother. Their bond shaped her early motivation to compete. "I remember being able to just have the connection with him and for us to be able to do something together that we both loved and was hard for both of us," she said. That encouragement stayed with her throughout her youth. "He'd be waiting on the side of the mat for me to come off… and there's nobody who wanted to see me win more than my brother," she added. During high school, Sloan became a four-time girls' state champion in Tennessee-a record-setting achievement. "It was non-negotiable for me to want to say championship four times," she said. "When I choose something, I'm a bit stubborn so it was easy to stay focused on it." At Campbellsville University, Sloan earned a national title and led both on and off the mat. "I went to college with an open mind," she said. "I knew if I was gonna wrestle in college I was gonna dedicate myself to it." Moreover, she stayed grounded. "I knew anything that I did anywhere was a representation of myself and my family and it was setting me up for my future," she added. Before arriving at Delaware State, Sloan served on the coaching staff at Sacred Heart University. "My biggest takeaway coaching at Sacred Heart really gave me an excitement for this Division 1 movement," she said. "It inspired me to pursue Division 1 opportunities elsewhere just to provide again more opportunities for people who have that dream." She left with more than experience. "I felt like I got to join another part of the family," she said. "Even though I'm not their coach anymore, those girls are still my family." In addition to wrestling, Sloan co-authored 'Can We Go to Lunch?', a book on mentoring teens, with her mentor, Kendra Berry. "Writing through some of the lessons that we learned helped me to see how much weight there is in influencing the life of a young person," she said. Consequently, that philosophy now guides her coaching. "It helps me to walk into this role with a little bit more purpose and maybe heaviness-but in a good way," she added. "It's a good heavy. It's a good weight to carry." At Delaware State, Kenya Sloan promises a competitive, close-knit culture. "You can expect a team with great camaraderie," she said. "But also a team that shows up for business. We don't need to be perfect-but we will give our best." Furthermore, she sees this as a turning point for women in college wrestling, especially at HBCUs. Sloan recognizes this opportunity isn't just hers-it's shared. "I want to specifically extend my gratitude to HBCU Wrestling," Sloan said. "Before this was my dream, it was someone else's dream to start a program and give opportunities to women who have never had this opportunity. They really put in the legwork to making sure that this was a possibility." "They found people like Delaware State University's administration and then me to help make that dream a reality," she added. The post HBCU Wrestling: Kenya Sloan to Lead Delaware State Team appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
DeSean Jackson visits former team at NFL minicamp
Former Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver DeSean Jackson was back in the NFL, for at least a day. Jackson made a surprise appearance at the team's mandatory minicamp practice Tuesday, drawing warm recognition from players, staff, and fans alike. Jackson, known for his electrifying speed and game-breaking ability, played eight seasons over two stints with the Eagles. His career in Philadelphia included three Pro Bowl selections and some of the most memorable plays in franchise history - none more iconic than his walk-off punt return touchdown against the New York Giants in 2010. Now entering a new chapter in football, Jackson has transitioned from player to coach. He currently serves as the head football coach at Delaware State University, a role he assumed earlier this year. His visit to the Eagles minicamp served both as a homecoming and an opportunity to stay connected with the NFL community, likely offering perspective and inspiration to both veterans and rookies on the roster. Jackson's visit to the Eagles camp comes on the heels of his first megacamp at Delaware State. Jackson welcomed more than 400 high school athletes to the school's inaugural high school mega camp, an event aimed at identifying talent and strengthening recruiting ties across the region, and showing what his HBCU has to offer. "Man, shoot, there's a lot of great talent out here today," DeSean Jackson told HBCU Gameday. "Anytime we get a chance to get out here, get eyes on guys, and evaluate their movement, speed, and competitiveness - that's a win." Jackson's presence in Philadelphia won't be the last time in 2025. The matchup between Delaware State and Michael Vick's Norfolk State Spartans will be played at Lincoln Financial Field. Originally slated for Saturday, Nov. 1 at Delaware State's Alumni Stadium, the game will now take place at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. The decision comes after unprecedented anticipation for the matchup between two well-known head coaches. The post DeSean Jackson visits former team at NFL minicamp appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Watch: DeSean Jackson hosts first HBCU Mega Camp
Delaware State University made headlines this weekend by hosting its first-ever high school football mega camp. Led by NFL great and new HBCU head coach DeSean Jackson, the event brought more than 400 high school players to campus. The goal: increase athlete visibility and build momentum for Delaware State's football program within the HBCU community. Held at Alumni Stadium, the camp included drills, evaluations, and networking opportunities with college coaches from across the region. The strong turnout marked a major milestone for the Hornets. Still, questions remain about the long-term impact. "This is our first-ever high school mega camp, and it's inspiring to see how many kids want to be part of this," DeSean Jackson told HBCU Gameday. "Anytime we get a chance to get back out here, get eyes on guys, and really evaluate their movement, speed, and competitiveness - that's a win." Now in his first season at the helm, Jackson hopes events like this can revitalize Delaware State football. The camp also helped rebuild recruiting pipelines that many high school athletes have lost access to due to the rise of the transfer portal. "The high school level is getting overlooked right now," Jackson said. "That's why these camps are so important - for exposure and visibility." He also emphasized the importance of community connections. "We're going to keep encouraging our staff and players to help close that gap between the community and alumni." The event reflects a growing trend among HBCUs to invest in grassroots recruiting. Programs like Jackson State and South Carolina State have already drawn national attention. Delaware State is now working to join that movement in a meaningful way. "Look - HBCUs are where it's at right now," Jackson said. "We want to continue to elevate that and help take it to another level." Delaware State's high school mega camp sent a strong message. The next step is turning that energy into sustained success on the field - and within the broader HBCU landscape. The post Watch: DeSean Jackson hosts first HBCU Mega Camp appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
First-ever HBCU women's wrestling program names head coach
Delaware State University is making HBCU history. The school has officially named Kenya Sloan as the inaugural head coach of its new women's wrestling program, making DSU the first HBCU to launch a varsity team in the sport. This groundbreaking hire comes ahead of the 2025–26 season, when women's wrestling will become a full NCAA championship sport. With this move, Delaware State positions itself as a trailblazer in expanding opportunities for Black female student-athletes. Sloan arrives at DSU from Sacred Heart University, where she served as an assistant coach for their women's wrestling team. She is a 2022 NAIA national champion from Campbellsville University and a former Junior Pan-American gold medalist. She also led the Knoxville Girls Wrestling Club to a Tennessee state freestyle title and has coached at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. "This is about creating space and legacy," Sloan told "I'm honored to lead this groundbreaking program at Delaware State." This appointment makes Delaware State University the first historically Black college or university to sponsor varsity-level women's wrestling. DSU Director of Athletics Tony Tucker emphasized the significance of the hire in an official statement. "Kenya Sloan is the right leader at the right time," Tucker said. "She brings championship experience and a commitment to developing student-athletes at the highest level." Recruiting efforts for the program have already begun, with the team set to begin competition in winter 2025. This decision underscores the ongoing evolution of HBCU athletics, particularly in expanding gender equity and Olympic sport representation. With Sloan at the helm, Delaware State isn't just building a wrestling team-it's setting a national precedent. As the first HBCU to make this move, DSU is carving out a new lane in collegiate athletics, elevating both the profile of women's wrestling and the visibility of HBCU sports programs. The post First-ever HBCU women's wrestling program names head coach appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Legends to Coach Against Each Other at Lincoln Financial Field
Eagles Legends to Coach Against Each Other at Lincoln Financial Field originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The ghosts of Eagles past will come alive at Lincoln Financial Field this October when two franchise legends face off in what promises to be one of the most emotionally charged games in recent memory. DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick, former teammates who once electrified Philadelphia crowds, will return to the Linc on Thursday, Oct. 30 — but this time as opposing head coaches. Advertisement Jackson's Delaware State Hornets will host Vick's Norfolk State Spartans in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown that represents far more than just another college football game. Both men are embarking on their first seasons as Division I head coaches, marking a new chapter in careers that were once intertwined in midnight green. From 2009 to 2013, Jackson and Vick formed one of the NFL's most dynamic duos, with the speedy receiver hauling in 13 touchdown passes from the elusive quarterback — more than Jackson caught from any other signal-caller during his illustrious career. Now they'll stand on opposite sidelines, each hoping to outcoach the other in their debut seasons. 'I came to Delaware State University to start a new phase of my career with a unique institution that cares about its students and is helping to transform their futures,' Jackson said in a statement. 'I know Coach Vick feels the same way at Norfolk State. A part of that transformation is opening our students and scholar-athletes up to a whole new set of experiences at the highest level.' Jackson was instrumental in bringing the game to Philadelphia, serving as a key advocate for moving the contest to the venue where he and Vick once thrilled Eagles faithful. The decision transforms what would have been a standard MEAC game into a celebration of HBCU football on one of the sport's biggest stages. Advertisement 'This is a tremendous opportunity for our student-athletes to play in a world-class venue on a world-class stage,' Vick explained. 'Coach Jackson and I made so many unforgettable memories together at Lincoln Financial Field — this stadium holds special meaning in my NFL career. I am thrilled to be a part of this historic moment.' The game represents a full-circle moment for both men. Vick, whose career was marked by remarkable highs and devastating lows, found redemption in Philadelphia after serving time in federal prison for financing a dogfighting ring. His partnership with Jackson during those comeback years created some of the most memorable moments in recent Eagles history, including Vick's Comeback Player of the Year season in 2010. When Jackson and Vick take the field at the Linc this fall, they'll be writing a new chapter in their storied relationship — one that began with touchdown passes and now continues with the development of young men who dream of following in their footsteps. Related: Eagles' Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean Already Ranked Among NFL's Best CB Duos Related: Jalen Carter Endorses Eagles Rookie This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
