Black College Golf Coaches Association Honors Andre Springs’ at 40th Annual Thomas W. Dortch HBCU Golf Classic

Atlanta, GA (September 24, 2025) — The Black College Golf Coaches Association (BCGCA) celebrated four decades of excellence in collegiate golf with the welcome and awards reception for the 40th Thomas W. Dortch HBCU Golf Tournament, officially launching National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame (NBCAHOF) Week. The ceremony recognized outstanding contributions to HBCU golf while presenting significant financial support to student-athletes and programs.

BCGCA Hall of Fame Inductions

The evening’s highlight featured the induction of two distinguished coaches into the Black College Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame:

• Dr. Gary Grandison was honored for his transformational leadership and unwavering dedication to developing young athletes.

• Andre Springs was recognized for his lifelong dedication to advancing golf education and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities. A trailblazer from his days at Fayetteville State University where he became the first freshman to win the CIAA Golf Championship and earned the title ‘Mr. CIAA Golfer,’ Springs continued breaking barriers as the first golfer inducted into FSU’s Hall of Fame. During his twenty-year coaching tenure at Livingstone College, he led teams to eight CIAA Golf Championships and three National Minority Golf Championships. His community impact extends through pioneering youth development work, including launching a minority golf clinic in 1987, and becoming the first black golf teaching professional at Birkdale Golf Club. Springs has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the CIAA, African-American Golfers, and National Black Golf Halls of Fame.

About the Thomas W. Dorth HBCU Golf Classic

Named in honor of Thomas W. Dortch, the tournament represents four decades of celebrating excellence in HBCU golf while providing competitive opportunities for student-athletes from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The event serves as the official kickoff for National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Week, highlighting the intersection of athletic achievement and educational excellence.

About the Black College Golf Coaches Association

The BCGCA is dedicated to advancing golf programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities through coaching development, student-athlete support, and program enhancement initiatives. The organization works to create opportunities for student-athletes while preserving and celebrating the rich tradition of HBCU golf.