By Mike Arcand
For more than four decades, the conference now known as the HBCU Athletic Conference has quietly built a legacy rooted in opportunity, resilience, and identity. Today, that story is entering a new chapter, one that now includes Jarvis Christian University, the academic institution that everyone in Wood County, Texas is so proud of.
Originally founded in 1981 as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), the league served as a home for smaller institutions, many of them historically black colleges and universities that were looking for a competitive stage that matched both their resources and their mission. Over the years, membership shifted, storms came and went, and programs rose and fell. But the conference endured.
In 2024, the GCAC officially rebranded as the HBCU Athletic Conference, a move that signaled more than a name change. It was a declaration, one that put culture, connection, and shared experience at the forefront. That identity is exactly what drew Jarvis Christian University to make the move.
A Decision Rooted in Culture and Practicality
I had the opportunity to meet with Jarvis Christian University President, Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt and student-athlete Kayla Green this week about the institution joining the HBCU Athletic Conference. According to the university leadership, transition to the HBCU Athletic Conference was years in the making. Conversations began under a previous administration, but the final decision came with a clear purpose.
“It was time for us to get onboard with like institutions—those that share similar missions and resources,” said Dr. Pruitt. “One of the biggest reasons was the culture of the conference: HBCU students playing institutions that are like their own.”
A Different Kind of Competition
For student-athletes like junior Kayla Green, the shift is about identity. “It’s exciting to me because it’s my culture: We get to go against other schools that are like ours, HBCUs,” Green said. “That makes it a different kind of competitive environment.”
Green, who competes in both volleyball and track and field, sees the move as a chance to deepen the student-athlete experience in ways that go beyond wins and losses. “It feels more traditional and more closely knit within the community of HBCU universities,” she said.
That sense of connection is something Dr. Pruitt believes will define the conference experience. “There’s a certain camaraderie with HBCUs. It’s fun, but it’s serious competition at the same time,” she said. “Everybody wants the title, but there’s also support—you’re competing with each other, but there’s still unity.”
She even offered a familiar comparison for those who follow college athletics. “We like to call it the ‘junior SWAC’ because it builds that same level of rivalry, pride, and community.”
A Different Kind of Competition
For student-athletes like junior Kayla Green, the shift is about identity. “It’s exciting to me because it’s my culture: We get to go against other schools that are like ours, HBCUs,” Green said. “That makes it a different kind of competitive environment.”
Green, who competes in both volleyball and track and field, sees the move as a chance to deepen the student-athlete experience in ways that go beyond wins and losses. “It feels more traditional and more closely knit within the community of HBCU universities,” she said.
That sense of connection is something Dr. Pruitt believes will define the conference experience. “There’s a certain camaraderie with HBCUs. It’s fun, but it’s serious competition at the same time,” she said. “Everybody wants the title, but there’s also support—you’re competing with each other, but there’s still unity.”
She even offered a familiar comparison for those who follow college athletics. “We like to call it the ‘junior SWAC’ because it builds that same level of rivalry, pride, and community.”
Building Rivalries and Opportunity
With Jarvis joining as the conference’s 16th member, the HBCU Athletic Conference is now the largest predominantly black athletic conference in the country. That growth brings opportunity, not just for competition, but for recruitment and exposure.
“Coaches have already said it’s helping with recruiting. Students want to come where they can play other HBCUs,” Dr. Pruitt said. Green agrees. “I definitely think it will attract more students, just because it’s HBCU. It’s different for us,” she said. “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be different—and more competitive.”
There’s also the added element of familiarity, something that fuels rivalries and builds energy across campuses. “We’ll get to build rivalries and compete against schools we already know. That makes it
even more exciting,” Green said.
And those rivalries aren’t just about competition, they’re about connection. “Our students are really excited because they’ll be playing against people they already know,” Dr. Pruitt said. “It creates a different level of energy.”
Leveling the Playing Field
One of the underlying motivations behind the move is competitive balance. In previous alignments, Jarvis often faced institutions with significantly larger budgets and resources. “I want our students to be able to compete to win—not be overmatched by institutions with far greater resources,” Dr. Pruitt said. “This helps level the playing field by competing against schools that are more like us.”
That balance allows student-athletes to focus on performance, development, and growth—without the constant uphill battle against better-funded programs. For Green, that translates into something simple but powerful. “As a student-athlete, it’s about working hard, having fun, and making the most of the opportunity,” she said.
More Than Just Athletics
The move also opens doors beyond the field of play. The HBCU Athletic Conference offers opportunities for internships and administrative experience, giving students a glimpse into the business side of college athletics. But at its core, the transition is about something deeper, a shared experience that extends beyond the scoreboard.
“I feel like the HBCU conference is just going to be a fun experience culturally—and competitive in every sport,” Green said.
A New Chapter Begins
As Jarvis Christian University prepares to enter its 115th year, the timing feels intentional. A historic institution is aligning itself with a conference built on shared history, shared challenges, and shared pride. And in doing so, it’s not just joining a league, it’s joining a movement.
From its humble beginnings as the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference to its current identity as the HBCU Athletic Conference, the league has always been about more than athletics. Now, with Jarvis Christian University in the fold, that story continues stronger, louder, and more connected than ever.