Aug 5th, 2024
Jackson State Community College (JSCC) Green Jay Athletics are set to expand its current intercollegiate athletics programs in the fall of 2025 with the addition of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Half-Marathon teams.
Jackson State President Dr. Carol A. Rothstein has expressed growing interest in expanding the college’s athletic program offerings since she took office in October of 2023.
“Our Athletics are a cornerstone of the college experience, both for our athletes and our students,” said President Rothstein. “Dr. Lynum has begun to bring my vision for JSCC Athletics to fruition, and this expansion is just the beginning. Tennessee boasts a wealth of talented student-athletes in track and field, and I look forward to seeing them in Green Jay Green on race days as a result of this expansion.
With a growing popularity of running sports in West Tennessee, the decision to add both programs to the Green Jay Athletics program lineup will reinforce JSCC Athletic Director Dr. Kevin Lynum’s vision of turning JSCC into a premiere destination for athletics in West Tennessee.
“Jackson State athletics continues to thrive alongside the college's growth and the addition of these two programs further reflects this,” said Lynum. “Adding additional teams demonstrates the institution’s vitality and ambition to become the premiere NJCAA institution in the country. It’s through this institutional backing and program expansion that I aim to make our athletic programs a central point to shaping the culture here and provide both an enjoyable and formative experience for our student-athletes.”
Adding both programs will allow JSCC to compete against other community colleges in Tennessee and the region, with both programs offering additional opportunities to compete for National Championships. The cross-country program, specifically, will provide the college opportunities to compete at invitations against larger four-year institutions throughout the region.
Both programs are slated to begin competing in Fall 2025. A national search will soon take place to identify the program's first head coach.
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