Tennessee State hires Duanté Abercrombie as its first hockey coach

Duanté Abercrombie was hired Thursday as the Tennessee State men's hockey coach, announced by school president Glenda Glover and athletic director Mikki Allen.

TSU is in the process of starting the first hockey team at an HBCU.

"I am incredibly excited to embark on building this program, supported by God, my family, TSU students, alumni, and all those eagerly awaiting this moment," Abercrombie said in a statement. "I firmly believe that one day, TSU will be recognized not only as a powerhouse on the ice but also as a program whose student-athletes leave a profound legacy on the world, enriched by the lessons learned at TSU."

In June 2023, TSU announced plans to offer men's hockey as an NCAA-sanctioned sport. TSU will begin as a club team in 2024-25, with the intent of achieving NCAA Division I status by 2026-27.

It will become the seventh NCAA Division I men's sport offered by TSU, joining football, basketball, cross-country, golf, tennis and track and field.

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"Duanté Abercrombie's appointment as TSU's head coach of hockey is a testament to our dedication to breaking barriers," Glover said. "We recognize the profound significance of bringing hockey to an HBCU and providing our students with unparalleled opportunities that will enrich their college experience. This bold move builds upon the TSU legacy that we had envisioned for the institution as a comprehensive university offering a wide range of academic and extracurricular programs, with a continued commitment to excellence."

Abercrombie is an inaugural member of the National Hockey League Coaches' Association's BIPOC Coaches Program, which aims to "specifically support Black, Indigenous, and coaches of color in several areas including skills development, leadership strategies, communication tactics, networking, and career advancement opportunities."

Abercrombie was raised in Washington, D.C., and mentored throughout his hockey journey by notable Black hockey figures such as Neal Henderson and Graeme Townshend.

Henderson, the first Black person inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, has led the Fort Dupont Cannons Ice Hockey Club since 1978, garnering numerous distinguished awards. Townshend, the first Jamaican-born player in the NHL, operates the Townshend Hockey School, where Abercrombie serves as a senior instructor, working with NCAA and NHL prospects.

Abercrombie has been nominated by the Washington Capitals for the 2024 Willie O'Ree Community Hero Award for his work as an inaugural member of the Capitals' Black Hockey Committee and as a co-creator/lead instructor with the Rising Stars Academy, a free program providing elite skill development and mentorship for local hockey players of color.

"Today is a historic moment for Tennessee State University Athletics, as we welcome our first-ever hockey head coach and marks a significant step in our plans to start the program," Allen said. "Extensive experience in player development and coaching is crucial in building a reputable program, along with the ability to motivate and inspire our student-athletes to excel both on and off the ice. Coach Abercrombie possesses these skills and more. We're excited to embark on this groundbreaking journey together."

Abercrombie spent the 2022-23 season with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs as a member of the coaching staff for the Maple Leafs, Toronto Marlies (American Hockey League affiliate), and the Newfoundland Growlers (East Coast Hockey League affiliate).

He worked closely with the video coaches to create and present detailed pre-scout and player analysis packages to individuals and the team. On the ice, he assisted in each player's development process, helped with the preparation and execution of practice, and led healthy scratches' game-day preparation.

"I knew after our first interaction that Duanté was the right person to lead the charge," said Nick Guerriero, TSU's director of hockey. "His understanding of HBCU culture, the collegiate hockey landscape, and the NHL will benefit our team tremendously. I'm thrilled to work with Coach Abercrombie as we develop TSU Hockey into a championship-caliber program."

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State hockey names Duanté Abercrombie first coach