Delaware State University (DSU) is entering a new era of growth and excitement. With fall football around the corner and the presence of former NFL star DeSean Jackson, momentum is building at Alumni Stadium. The HBCU is investing in a major facilities upgrade, hiring a star head coach, and transforming its athletic future.

DSU Launches Athletics Transformation Project

In 2024, DSU introduced the Athletics Transformation Project. The goal is to improve athletic facilities and student-athlete experiences. A big part of that effort is the construction of a new 70,000-square-foot field house.

On July 1, Delaware’s state bond bill included $20 million in funding for the project.

“It’s going to inject a lot of energy and goodwill into our campus,” DSU Athletic Director Tony Tucker told Adam Denn of the Delaware News Journal.

DSU hired former NFL wide receiver DeSean Jackson as head football coach in December 2024. His arrival created instant buzz.

“He’s brought a lot of energy to the football program, as well as the university,” Tucker said.

Tucker was promoted to athletic director just before Jackson’s hiring. He calls this moment a “perfect storm” of progress and opportunity.

“This is the perfect time for Delaware State athletics,” he said. “We can reach heights never seen before by the university,” he said to Delaware Online.

What Will the DSU Field House Include?

The new DSU field house will sit next to Alumni Stadium. The design includes:

• A 50-yard indoor turf field
• Team meeting rooms
• Player lounge areas
• Updated locker rooms for all sports

Jackson believes the facility will improve recruiting immediately.

“Coming from a big school like Cal and seeing them transform, I think it’s really gonna help,” he said. “We’ve lost talent to schools like Norfolk and Howard. Having better facilities will make a huge difference.”

Tucker said the facility will also serve students beyond athletics.

“Other sports that train indoors will use it. Non-athletes will also have access to lounge and meeting areas.”

DSU Eyes New Convocation Center

In addition to the field house, the state included language supporting a future DSU convocation center. The center would host basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and major events.

This new arena would replace Memorial Hall, the current 1,800-seat venue. The new space is projected to cost $90 million.

“Our location could become a key venue for high school sports,” Tucker said. “We’re in the center of Delaware.”

In 2024, DSU hosted the Delaware state football championships at Alumni Stadium after issues with rental fees at the University of Delaware.

“It’s about creating a better experience for athletes and families,” Tucker said. “Families from Southern Delaware shouldn’t have to drive to the north of the state for big games.”

Jackson Wants to Level the Playing Field

Coach Jackson hopes these changes close the gap between DSU and the University of Delaware.

“Delaware has been getting a lot of talent over us,” he said. “If we can offer similar resources, we’ll get players we’ve missed in the past.”

What’s Next for DSU Athletics?

The field house doesn’t have a firm start date yet. Tucker said the goal is to finish construction in 18 to 24 months.

The convocation center will take more time and funding. But Jackson remains optimistic.

“The sky’s the limit,” he said. “Success this season will open eyes. We’ll be hard to overlook.”

Related

World Championships: Italy Tops Serbia in Shootout on Second Day of Men’s Water Polo

Italy capped a long day at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships with a penalty shootout win over Serbia, 17-16, on Monday in Singapore.

The day opened with the United States stopping Brazil, 16-7, and included a 13-11 thriller won by Croatia over Montenegro.

Giacomo Cannella was the hero for Italy, scoring in the fifth round of the shootout to put the Italians over the top. The first six scorers all scored before the goalies had their say. Italy’s Gianmarco Nicosia stopped Boris Vapenski in the fourth round and Milos Cuk in the fifth. His opposite number, Lazar Dobozanov, stopped Alessandro Velotto in the fourth round, but Cannella found a way past in the fifth to send Italy top of Group A by a point over Serbia.

Getting a point from the game was a great result for Serbia, which trailed 13-10 with 3:53 left in regulation after Matteo Iocchi Gratta scored. Dusan Mandic scored a penalty goal then on the power play, and Vasilije Martinovic’s power-play tally with six seconds left sent the game to the shootout.

Nicosia led the Italians with 13 saves. Iocchi Gratta shot 3-for-3 from the field. Francesco Di Fulvio added three goals and two assists. Cannella scored four times but took 15 shots to get there.

Mandic characteristically led Serbia with six goals on nine shots. Martinovic was 4-for-4 shooting on the day. Radoslav Filipovic stopped 14 shots in regulation before giving way to Dobozanov.

Marko Bijac made 11 saves, including one with 18 seconds left, as Croatia pulled out a wild one over Montenegro. The Montenegrins pulled within one goal on three occasions in the fourth quarter before Rino Buric’s goal with one second left sealed the game for Croatia.

Luka Bukic scored three times for Croatia. Konstantin Kharkov and Loren Fatovic had two goals and two assists apiece for Croatia, and Marko Zuvela chipped in a goal and four assists.

Djuro Radovic and Dusan Banicevic scored three times each for Montenegro, which got eight saves from Petar Tesanovic.

The Americans started the day by handling Brazil, 16-7. The lead was 8-1 at half. Max Irving and Ryder Dodd scored four goals each, Irving adding two assists. Adrian Weinberg stopped 11 shots. Chase Dodd had a goal and four assists.

The U.S. leads Group C with six points, with a game remaining against last-place Singapore. The host country dropped a 22-10 decision to Canada, thanks to seven goals from Reuel Mark D’Souza and four from Bogdan Djerkovic.

Hungary and Spain won to set up a showdown for the Group B crown in Wednesday’s nightcap. Hungary outlasted a feisty Japan side, 23-18, behind four goals from Zsombor Vismeg. Marton Vamos had two goals and six assists, and Adam Nagy contributed three goals and two helpers. Seiya Adachi and Taiyo Watanabe scored four times each for the Japanese, who are ahead of Australia for third in the group on goal differential.

Spain kept Australia muted in a 10-7 win. The Spanish led 4-0 after one quarter and 9-2 at half despite shooting just 10-for-35 (29 percent) for the game. Roger Tahull scored twice. Alvaro Granados and Bernat Sanahuja scored two goals and an assist each, but they combined to shoot just 4-for-16.

Greece kept the pressure on Croatia and Montenegro in Group D with a 26-5 win over China, thanks to a 12-0 first-half margin. Dimitrios Nikolaidas had a second-quarter hat trick and finished 5-for-5 shooting. Nikolaos Gkillas and Efstathios Kalogeropoulos scored four times each.

Romania deluged South Africa, 24-5, though with a 47-19 edge in shots, it could’ve been worse. Vlad Georgescu and Francesco Iudean scored four goals apiece.

Singapore – July 14 – The USA Women’s National Team went unbeaten through group play at the World Championships with a 26-3 win over Argentina. Ava Stryker scored six goals to lead the offense with Isabel Williams recording 11 saves in the cage. Team USA advances straight to the quarterfinals on Saturday and awaits their next opponent. Live streaming of all USA matches will be available on Peacock (login required).

Team USA got going right away as Tara Prentice scored first on the opening possession of the game. Shortly thereafter, Emily Ausmus rang the register on a penalty strike before Jenna Flynn did the same for a 3-0 lead. Next, it was Jovana Sekulic who scored from set and then Stryker joined the mix with a skip shot goal for a 5-0 lead. Argentina got on the board with about one minute remaining in the quarter but Rachel Gazzaniga returned the favor to give the Americans a 6-1 lead after one.

Gazzaniga started the second period with her second goal of the day for a 7-1 lead. Ausmus put home her second score after a nice shot fake and then, midway through the quarter, Flynn floated home a lob shot from six meters to make it 9-1. Argentina scored another goal on its next possession and then Stryker put home back-to-back goals for a hat trick and an 11-2 lead. With just over one minute left in the half, Stryker stepped up to convert a penalty shot before Ella Woodhead found the back of the net to push the lead to 13-2 before the break.

Jewel Roemer got free on the counter attack for a 1-on-1 with the Argentinian goalkeeper to begin the third quarter and she put it away with ease. Two minutes later, Emma Lineback scored to make it 15-2 before Stryker went cross cage for her fifth goal of the day. Midway through the quarter, Roemer and Sekulic converted penalty shots for an 18-2 lead. Just over one minute later, Sekulic netted her third goal and then Argentina put away their third score of the day on a penalty shot. From there, Sekulic extended the USA lead before Julia Bonaguidi made it 21-3 after three with a penalty shot conversion.

The final frame saw the Americans get goals from Prentice (2), Lineback, Malia Allen, and Stryker as the United States rolled to the 26-3 victory.

Team USA went 6/10 on power plays and 8/8 on penalties while Argentina went 1/7 on power plays and 1/1 on penalties.

Quotes

“It’s always an honor anytime you get to put on this suit. I’ve been training with this team for a long time [and now] being at my second World Championships and playing in more games than my first time through is such a privilege. Being around these teammates, many of whom I’ve played with in college or on younger national teams, is an amazing experience. We have all grown up in the program together and being able to play at the highest level of water polo has been awesome.”  – Ella Woodhead

Scoring – Stats

USA 26 (6, 7, 8, 5) A. Stryker 6, J. Sekulic 4, T. Prentice 3, E. Ausmus 2, J. Flynn 2, R. Gazzaniga 2, E. Lineback 2, J. Roemer 2, M. Allen 1, J. Bonaguidi 1, E. Woodhead 1

ARG 3 (1, 1, 1, 0) J. Auliel 1, A. Bacigalupo 1, M. Canda 1

Saves – USA – I. Williams 11 – ARG – N. Stegmayer 3, L. Canales 1

6×5 – USA – 6/10 – ARG 1/7

Penalties – USA – 8/8 – ARG – 1/1