Tremaine Jackson, the head coach of Prairie View A&M's football program, has publicly denounced the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) for failing to invite any of his staff to speak at its recent annual convention.
The Panthers capped a 10‑4 season with a Southwest Athletic Conference title and a berth in the Celebration Bowl, the national championship game for HBCU football. Jackson points to the team's top‑ranked defense and one of the state's most potent offenses as evidence of the program's rising stature.
A Convention Without Voices
The THSCA convention featured 42 coaching sessions, with 31 slots reserved for college coaches and 11 for high school mentors. Despite the Panthers' recent triumphs, none of Jackson's assistants were selected, a decision Jackson interprets as a sign of the 'good‑ol'‑boy' network that marginalizes HBCU contributions.
Jackson argues that the omission is not an isolated slight but part of a national pattern of undervaluing HBCU football. He recalls how the program's 1990s reputation — marked by an 80‑game losing streak — continues to be weaponized to dismiss its present achievements.
Beyond the Field
Beyond the immediate controversy, Jackson is a vocal advocate for minority coaching talent. He is a founding member of the Minority Coaches Advancement Association, which offers mentorship, mock interviews, and networking events aimed at diversifying head‑coaching pipelines.
His track record underscores his credibility: a 50‑16 record over six seasons, a 30‑8 stint at Valdosta State that earned him AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year, and a 2025 SWAC Coach of the Year honor.
Jackson's critique thus extends beyond personal grievance; it is a call for systemic recognition of HBCU programs and the coaches who steward them, urging institutions to move past historical stereotypes and embrace the contemporary excellence on display.