I’m Done! The Impact of the Transfer Portal on Black Male Student Athletes

by Henry A. Stanford The outcomes of Black male student-athletes (BMSA) competing at colleges and universities have been analyzed for years. Coaches commit a substantial amount of time to actively recruiting athletes, to see them leave within one year. Student-athletes are attracted to campus to compete and earn a college degree but have seen more failure than success. In recent years, the transfer portal has added to the complexity of retention and departure at every level in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Student-athletes entering one university and departing within months create a conflict with retention programming. Overall, we have seen improvement, but the reality is that there are fewer Black male student-athletes graduating than any other racial group at predominantly White institutions. Student-athletes enter college, dreaming of changing their and their family’s future. They are using the college opportunity to serve as a bridge to the NFL, NBA, MLB, Olympics, and other professions. Coaches and administrators encourage these dreams while bringing them to their campus. They provide stories of other successful BMSAs they have developed. Coaches focus on finding the best athletes to add to their programs with national championships or increased wins in mind. The marriage is clear around...