HBCU Sports Rundown: Coaches to Power 4, Ruffin and Horne to Enter Transfer Portal

HOUSTON — HBCU sports rarely stand still, and the recent head coaching moves at Mississippi Valley State, Jackson State, and Alabama State, as well as a probable shift at Texas Southern, are all signs we’ll have more reports within the next few weeks.

The NCAA transfer portal for two All-SWAC performers has made headlines. Hold on, HBCU community, it’s about to get bumpy! Here is everything you need to know.

Dec 13, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Jackson State Tigers head coach Mo Williams gestures to his team against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

SWAC Coaches Ascending: Head Coaches Move to Power 4 Staffs

Alabama A&M head women’s basketball coach Dawn Thornton highlighted a notable trend Monday, pointing out that three male SWAC head coaches have recently accepted Power 4 assistant coaching positions. Only two are confirmed since Johnny Jones verified with HBCU Legends that he’s only in “discussions” with LSU. It is a testament, Thornton said, to “the investment" being made in HBCU coaching talent.

Salute to #SWAC. Three of our own male head coaches just leveled up to Power 5 assistant roles. That doesn’t happen by accident…. This is what investment in people looks like. 🖤
— Dawn Thornton (@DivaCoachAAMU) March 30, 2026

The movement is a double-edged story. On the one hand, it validates what HBCU programs have been saying for years: the talent on the sidelines is Power 4-caliber. These coaches are being recruited away — not simply departing. That is a meaningful distinction. It signals that the broader college basketball world is beginning to recognize HBCU sidelines as a legitimate pipeline for elite coaching talent.

On the other hand, the players those coaches recruited are now left navigating uncertainty. Roster continuity is the lifeblood of program-building at any level, and when a head coach departs — even for a prestigious opportunity — the recruiting relationships that brought players to campus walk out the door with him. One could view Jackson State’s Daeshun Ruffin entering the NCAA Transfer Portal as a sign that he may follow Mo Williams to Kentucky. Connect the dots.

Whether those players remain at their respective HBCUs or transfer elsewhere through the portal is a legitimate and open question about the message coaching moves send about HBCU programs as a whole.

Black college sports are increasingly becoming a pipeline for upper-tier coaches and their programs. The challenge is building institutional structures strong enough to retain what they develop.

PVAMU guard Dontae Horne meets with the media in postgame presser. | HBCU LEGENDS

Prairie View A&M's Dontae Horne Entering Transfer Portal

Prairie View A&M guard Dontae Horne hopes to enter the transfer portal - one problem - he must get NCAA approval for another year of eligibility. Leaving The Hill in Prairie View would be a significant departure for the Panthers' program, coming off a historic postseason run.

Prairie View A&M star Dontae Horne is entering the transfer portal, per his representatives @devoresports

Horne averaged 20.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists this season.

He will need to apply for an eligibility waiver pic.twitter.com/E9N6uyUz61
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) March 30, 2026

Horne averaged 20.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game this season and was a central figure in the Panthers' first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.

His decision to enter the portal does not diminish what he accomplished at Prairie View. Horne helped write a defining moment in HBCU basketball history. But his departure underscores the challenge facing programs that break through: breakout players who create those moments often attract immediate attention—and immediate offers.

Raeshun Ruffin vs. University of Houston Cougars — Dec 10, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Jackson State Tigers guard Daeshun Ruffin (24) smiles after a play during the first half against the Houston Cougars at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Daeshun Ruffin Entering Transfer Portal

Jackson State guard Daeshun Ruffin — the fourth-leading scorer in the nation — plans to enter the transfer portal, sources confirm. The news comes shortly after the conclusion of the 2025-26 college basketball season.

NEWS: Jackson State’s Daeshun Ruffin, the SWAC POTY, will enter the transfer portal, he told @TheFieldOf68.

The point guard averaged 23.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 5.3 apg this season. Started career at Ole Miss in 2021-22. Will need a waiver to be eligible next season. pic.twitter.com/O7vR7uG0lM
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 30, 2026

Ruffin's departure is a significant loss for Jackson State. He was one of the most prolific scorers in all of college basketball this season — not just among HBCUs — and his presence put the Tigers in contention night in and night out.

Expect Ruffin to draw heavy interest from programs across all divisions of college basketball.

Langston's Chris Wright to Interview for Alabama State Head Coaching Job

HBCU Legends reached out to Alabama State to confirm a report that says Langston University head coach Chris Wright is scheduled to interview for the vacant men's basketball head coaching position. Well, he's not on the list, yet. An athletic department representative called him a "strong candidate" and the "coaching interviews will start within a week."

Wright has become a hot name after Langston’s NAIA championship run. He has built a winning culture at both Talladega and Langston and is now being considered for one of the SWAC's prominent head coaching positions.

Alabama State is looking to rebuild after the sudden departure of Coach Tony Madlock, who left to become an assistant in Memphis. Wright's NAIA pedigree and ability to develop talent at a smaller program make him an intriguing candidate for an athletic department looking to reset its culture and compete for another SWAC title.

George Ivory Out as Mississippi Valley State Head Coach

Mississippi Valley State men's basketball program is parting ways with former head basketball coach George Ivory, per an announcement from the school. His four-year tenure ends with an overall record of 12-118 and an 8-67 mark in SWAC play.

Ivory arrived at MVSU, tasked with rebuilding one of the SWAC's most historically challenged programs. The Delta Devils went 12-18 combined in conference play across the final two seasons of his tenure, a slight uptick from the program's early depths under his watch. MVSU will now begin a national search for its next men's basketball head coach.

Morris Leaving Alcorn State

Jameel Morris' agent informed The Field of 68 that the Alcorn State junior will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Alcorn State’s Jameel Morris intends to enter the transfer portal, per his agent @RyanStraining00 of Always On Sports Agency.

The 6-1 junior guard averaged 11.2 ppg, 2.9 apg and 2.1 stls (23rd in D1). Started career at Fairleigh Dickinson. pic.twitter.com/HfAtLmnbp7
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 31, 2026

Urban Edge Network Honored at 2026 Billy D Awards

The 2026 Billy D Awards recognized Urban Edge Network with the 'Service to NAIA Basketball Fans' award — a nod to what the platform has meant for accessibility across small-college basketball.

🏆 2026 Billy D Awards 🏆
✨ 'Service to NAIA Basketball Fans' - Urban Edge Network.
✅ UEN provided a streaming platform to standardize viewing NAIA MBB. They also struck streaming deals with many conferences around the country, eliminating most paywalls!! THANK YOU URBAN EDGE… pic.twitter.com/Z65bzPRmEP
— Cascade Hoops Talk (@CascadeHoopTalk) March 31, 2026

Urban Edge Network built a centralized streaming infrastructure for NAIA men's basketball and struck distribution deals with conferences across the country. The result: fewer paywalls, broader access, and a standardized viewing experience for fans who otherwise had little reliable access to NAIA games. For HBCU programs competing at the NAIA level, that visibility matters.

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Shedeur Sanders will wear number 2 next season pic.twitter.com/7ahSitctcs
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Please join us in welcoming Ashley Jones as our new Director of Football Operations!

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Here's why you should after she made HERstory this weekend - https://t.co/Z9Tfxmrgp2 pic.twitter.com/WeKhlyHqVB
— Kyle T. Mosley (@ktmoze) March 31, 2026