HBCU Football Coach Supports College Sports Executive Order

Donald Trump has shown a particular interest in the landscape of college sports during his second term in office. He signed an executive order this spring titled “Saving College Sports”, which was geared towards addressing issues related to the transfer portal and NIL.

President Trump is SAVING college sports, and Nick Saban is all in 🔥⬇️

“I would just like to thank President Trump for having the foresight to know that there are things we need to do to change the future of college athletics… I’m especially proud to be a part of it.” pic.twitter.com/yhXui63rN3

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 11, 2026

The executive order stated that programs should “provide for the ability to transfer one time during the five-year eligibility period with immediate playing eligibility, and one additional such time if the student-athlete obtains a four-year degree.”

There’s also the notion of triggering a penalty for a second transfer, which would involve a subsequent redshirt season.

While the executive order has received various types of feedback from all over the college sports world, North Carolina A&T football coach Shawn Gibbs has expressed support for the points raised in the executive order.

“I kind of like the executive order,” coach Gibbs said on the Aggie Pridecast. “As far as kids still having the freedom to transfer, but just one time. After that, you’d have to sit out a year, which I think would kind of cut back on things.”

Gibbs has been in the coaching ranks for a long time, and has been with North Carolina A&T through conference changes and before immediate transferring was allowed. He became the Aggies’ running backs coach in 2011 and assumed the role of head coach in December 2024.

Former @NCATAGGIES @TarikCohen is thrilled with the North Carolina A&T’s decision to bring in Shawn Gibbs as the programs next head football coach.

Cohen says he’s already donated $10K to the program. A big investment, as he is all in on the hire! pic.twitter.com/hjArSlOiqw

— JOHN JOHNSON II (@TheJJohnsonTV) December 18, 2024

He acknowledged that there’s no perfect solution, but that some level of regulation is necessary relative to the freedom that’s permitted currently.

“There’s really no right way to do it,” he said. Anything that we do, somebody is going to complain about it. It’s not going to fit somebody. So I just take the approach that it is what it is. Whatever comes down, we’re just going to adjust to it and do the best that we can.”

While Gibbs would like to have established rules, his program is no stranger to the transfer portal and the type of talent that can be acquired from it. The Aggies brought in 17 new players this February from the portal, and coach Gibbs wanted to bring players in who had a regional connection, whether they were coming from high school or another college program.

“We wanted to focus recruiting efforts within the state and bordering states,” Gibbs said to the school’s website. “We feel good about the homegrown talent we’ve been able to land.”

Gibbs also spoke about the long-term, unintended consequences of multiple transfers within one college career with regards to familiarity and community.

“We have to start really thinking about life after football. It’s not about what you know, it’s who knows you,” Gibbs said. “If you don’t stay at a place but one year, who’s going to know you?”

Gibbs is hoping that more people know about North Carolina A&T football in a positive light in 2026. The Aggies had a rough 2025 campaign, finishing 2-6 in the CAA and 2-10 overall. This did, however, represent an improvement, as the Aggies went winless in the conference the year before.

Coach Gibbs & The Transfer Order
Category	Details
The Coach	Shawn Gibbs, Head Football Coach of the North Carolina A&T Aggies.
The Stance	Gibbs recently voiced support for the "one-time transfer rule" mandated by the recent federal executive order aimed at NCAA reform.
The Executive Order	The "Saving College Sports" order (signed in April 2026) pressures the NCAA to implement strict eligibility limits, including restricting penalty-free transfers to a single occurrence prior to graduation.
The Rationale	While Gibbs advocates for player freedom to find the right fit, he argues that endless transfers disrupt team chemistry, harm long-term player development, and reduce an athlete's networking opportunities for life after football.
The HBCU Impact	HBCU programs face unique vulnerabilities with the unchecked transfer portal. Without the massive NIL budgets or depth of Power Four schools, losing standout players annually makes sustainable roster building incredibly difficult.
Next Steps	The executive directive pressures the NCAA to clarify or update its transfer and eligibility rules before August 1, 2026, setting the stage for major compliance shifts across college sports.