DSU finished 1–11 in both 2023 and 2024, failing to win a single MEAC game. Following the 2024 season, the university fired head coach Lee Hull and hired former NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson in December 2024. It was Jackson’s first coaching role, but his NFL résumé gave DSU a figure who could bring attention and energy to a stagnant football program. And just seven months later, in July 2025, Delaware’s FY2025 bond bill allocated $20 million to DSU athletics. 

Despite being ranked the third-best public HBCU for the fifth consecutive year, recruits often chose programs like Norfolk State or Howard, where facilities were better equipped to support player development and comfort. Delaware State University lacked key infrastructure other HBCUs had already invested in—no indoor turf field, outdated locker rooms, and no athlete-focused spaces like lounges or modern meeting rooms. That talent drain showed up in results, too. 

During an April 2025 capital budget hearing, DeSean Jackson didn’t mince words about Delaware State’s athletic infrastructure. “It’s kind of shaming to be at a Division I school and I can’t brag about our facilities,” he told lawmakers, offering an unvarnished view of how inadequate resources have kept DSU at a disadvantage. On July 1, Delaware approved its Fiscal Year 2025 bond bill (House Bill 475 / SB 200), which earmarked $30 million for Delaware State University—the largest per-institution allocation—with $20 million specifically designated for the Athletics Transformation Project. As part of Phase I, this funding will support:

• A 70,000-square-foot indoor field house adjacent to Alumni Stadium
•  A 50-yard indoor turf practice field. This will be the first indoor turf facility at any HBCU—a major step forward for DSU’s athletic capabilities.
• Modern locker rooms and recovery suites
• Team meeting rooms, lounges, academic study labs, and a small café/refueling area

Aside from the football roster, non-athletes and other sportspeople would be welcome to make use of the compound. “It’s going to inject a lot of energy and goodwill into our campus,” said Athletic Director Tony Tucker. “We can’t wait to get started; This is the perfect time for Delaware State athletics. We can reach heights never seen before by the university,” he told Delaware Online.

DeSean Jackson, the new head coach, understands the impact this investment could have on the entire program. Especially when it comes to recruiting new talent. “Coming from a big school like Cal and seeing them transform over the years [through upgrades], I think it’s really gonna help with recruiting,” Jackson said.

Jackson also noted how it makes the program competitive.  “Not having people overlook us, and go to rival schools like Norfolk and Howard who have eye-popping facilities, will be huge,” Jackson further said. But the most substantial shift may come from what’s still to break ground.

A new convocation center is being planned, which would become home for DSU’s indoor sports—basketball, wrestling, and volleyball—while also offering a venue for broader community events. At present, the Hornets play in Memorial Hall, an aging 1,800-seat arena that lacks modern facilities and limits the university’s hosting potential.

The proposed facility carries a projected cost of $90 million, but administrators see it as an investment beyond athletics. “Delaware is a small state, which we happen to be in the direct center of,” said Tucker. “Our location at the center of the state could be a shiny new place for a lot of Delaware high school competitions.” Tucker’s comment pointed to a timely shift in state sports logistics.

Traditionally, high school championships—especially football—were held at the University of Delaware. But rental fee controversies have strained that relationship. In 2024, the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association moved the Class 3A and Unified football title games to DSU’s Alumni Stadium instead. This strengthened DSU’s case as a more neutral and accessible venue for state-wide events.

Still, Tucker emphasized that this wasn’t about replacing the University of Delaware, but expanding opportunities. “It’s just about providing a situation where our high school athletes and parents are the winners,” he said. “Not having to travel all the way to Northern Delaware would be very beneficial for some of the Southern Delaware community.”

Jackson believes these improvements could also reshape recruiting dynamics within the state. “Delaware has been getting a lot of talent over us over the past year or so,” he acknowledged. “If we can say ‘We can play on the same playing field,’ we’re probably going to be able to get some guys we couldn’t have before.”

As for timelines, the field house has no finalized start date, but Tucker noted they’re aiming for an 18- to 24-month window to bring it to life. Broader changes, like upgrades to Alumni Stadium or additional training infrastructure, could take longer and depend on further funding allocations. Still, Jackson remains optimistic. “The sky’s the limit,” he said. “I think the success we’re going to have this year will open up a lot of eyes, and make us hard to look over.”