QUEENS, NY - Bowie State University Associate Head Women's Tennis Coach Jeri Ingram represented the Bulldogs on one of tennis' biggest stages Wednesday, Sept. 2, participating in the opening-match coin toss at Louis Armstrong Stadium during the 2026 US Open's HBCU Live Day. The annual celebration recognizes the culture, history and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their connection to the sport of tennis. Now in its sixth year, HBCU Live highlights the contributions of HBCU pioneers and the lasting impact they have had on the growth of tennis.
For Ingram, taking part in the ceremonial coin toss provided a special opportunity to represent Bowie State and its tennis program while honoring the generations of HBCU student-athletes, coaches and trailblazers who helped expand opportunities within the sport. Her appearance at Louis Armstrong Stadium also served as a reflection of Bowie State's place within the broader HBCU tennis community, connecting the Bulldogs' program to an event that celebrates the institutions and individuals who continue to shape tennis.
"As a former WTA player who is an HBCU Women's Tennis Coach," Ingram said. "It is important that I use my platform to bring awareness to the various HBCU Tennis Programs on one of the biggest stages in the Country. HBCU Tennis players tend to get overlooked, and she wants to advocate for them, and let the world know about their talent and opportunities to play at a University such as Bowie State University".
A Foundation Built on Opportunity
The history of HBCU tennis is closely connected to the broader story of integration and opportunity in American sports. HBCU campuses provided more than places to play. They served as gathering points where athletes could compete against one another, develop their skills and establish relationships that extended far beyond the tennis court.
The ATA's tournament circuit became one of the most important avenues for Black tennis players during the first half of the 20th century. Players who competed in that environment included some of the sport's most influential figures, while HBCU institutions helped provide the infrastructure necessary for those competitions to continue.
The result was a pipeline of talent that helped change the perception of who could excel in tennis.
HBCUs Continue to Shape Tennis
The influence of HBCUs on tennis is not simply a piece of history. More than 40 of the nation's federally recognized HBCUs currently offer varsity tennis programs, giving student-athletes opportunities to compete at the collegiate level while earning their degrees.
In the Mid-Atlantic region alone, nine of the area's 11 HBCUs offer men's and/or women's tennis programs. Bowie State University is among those institutions, continuing a tradition of providing student-athletes with the opportunity to compete while pursuing higher education.
Today's HBCU tennis programs represent another chapter in a story that began generations ago. Student-athletes competing on HBCU courts are not only playing for themselves or their respective universities. They are participating in a tradition that includes the athletes, coaches, administrators and communities who fought to create opportunities for those who came before them.
More Than a Tennis Event
The HBCU Tennis Event is designed to celebrate that entire legacy. While matches will provide the competitive centerpiece, the event will also serve as an opportunity to educate attendees about the history of Black tennis and recognize the role HBCUs played in creating opportunities during periods of exclusion.
The event will celebrate the athletes currently carrying that tradition forward while honoring the generations who helped make their opportunities possible. It is a reminder that the history of HBCU tennis cannot be measured
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit bsubulldogs.com.
