Prairie View A&M head coach Tremaine Jackson issued a public statement criticizing the Texas High School Coaches Association for excluding his staff from its summer convention, despite the Panthers winning the 2025 SWAC championship and posting a 9-4 record. The convention, held annually in Houston, typically features coaching clinics from successful programs across the state. Jackson's staff received no invitation.
The THSCA convention draws roughly 12,000 high school coaches and administrators over four days each July. College programs use speaking slots to build relationships with prep coaches who control access to recruits. Texas FBS schools—Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Houston, SMU—routinely present. Jackson's statement noted that Prairie View, located 45 miles northwest of Houston, has won three SWAC titles since 2009 but has never been invited to speak. He called the omission "a lack of respect for what we've built" and suggested HBCU programs face systemic barriers in Texas high school circles.
The visibility matters because Prairie View competes directly with Group of Five programs for the same Texas recruits. The Panthers signed 22 Texas high school players in their 2025 class, most from Houston-area programs. Those recruits chose Prairie View over offers from UTSA, North Texas, and Louisiana schools. Speaking at the THSCA convention would place Jackson's staff in front of the same coaches who produce prospects for Sun Belt and Conference USA programs. The convention also features an exhibit hall where colleges rent booths; Prairie View has not appeared there in recent years, according to THSCA archives.
Jackson's statement follows a broader conversation about HBCU football's resource gap. Prairie View's athletic budget was approximately $14 million in fiscal 2024, roughly one-fifth of Group of Five peers like UTSA. The Panthers play in a 15,000-seat stadium that underwent $22 million in renovations completed in 2016, but the program lacks the dedicated recruiting infrastructure of schools with larger budgets. High school coaches often cite lack of personal relationships with HBCU staffs as a reason for steering prospects elsewhere. The THSCA platform would help close that gap at no direct cost.
Prairie View athletic director Alicia Pete has not commented publicly. The THSCA released a brief statement noting that convention invitations are extended based on "availability and program fit," without elaborating on selection criteria. The association's board includes representatives from six-figure Texas high school programs and several retired college coaches, but no current HBCU staff members. Jackson's statement named no individuals but noted the decision was "made by people who don't see us as equals."
The timing is notable because Jackson is entering the final year of his current contract, signed in 2022. His base salary is approximately $325,000, among the lowest for SWAC head coaches. A strong 2026 season and continued public advocacy could position him for either a Prairie View extension or an FBS coordinator role. His staff includes three assistants who previously coached at Texas high school powers; those relationships have driven recent recruiting success. Losing convention access limits their ability to maintain those ties while employed at an HBCU.
The THSCA convention runs through this Saturday. Jackson's staff will not attend. The next SWAC media day is scheduled for late July, where conference officials typically address off-field topics. Prairie View opens its 2026 season September 5 against Texas Southern.
The takeaway
Convention access directly affects HBCU recruiting pipelines in talent-rich states where high school coaches control prospect flow.
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