About the HJCAC
All of you are aware of the decision made February 2018, by the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) to eliminate football at the four MCCCD football schools after the 2018 season. As a result of this decision Pima Community College, Arizona Western College, and Eastern Arizona College also predictably dropped each of their respective football programs leaving the State of Arizona completely void of football at the community college level. This resulted in the loss of athletic and academic opportunities for more than 750+ student-athletes from within the Arizona Community. We conservatively estimate that those football programs generated more than $8million annually in 4-year scholarship opportunities to their student-athletes.
Believing in the importance of Junior College Athletics as a fundamental step in promoting the transformational growth of young people in our community, we could not sit back and accept this tragic loss of opportunity. Recognizing the long odds in actually seeing a reversal of the decision led a couple of coaches to begin securing corporate level sponsorship through a non-profit to bring community college football back to the State of Arizona.
The creation of the non-profit Athletic Advancement Association of America (AAAA) became the foundation for the return of football. In an attempt to return football to the valley it was important for the board to work cohesively with various individuals and entities including special advisors to the board with various ties to community college football, NCAA football, and strategic business partnerships.
The board believed that the formation of a conference was essential for policy development, rules oversight, and an eventual return to the NJCAA. This led to the creation of the Hohokam Junior College Athletic Conference (HJCAC). We chose this name as a way to pay homage to the State of Arizona and the large Native American communities located within its borders. Additionally, the name Hohokam roughly translates to “those who came before” and represents each of us as football coaches across the State that have tirelessly worked to develop academic and athletic opportunities for each of the student-athletes that we work with.
Beginning in the fall of 2019 the HJCAC will consist of 5 teams,with a goal of expanding to other areas of the state moving forward.
The HJCAC does not exist solely to offer an opportunity to play football, rather it was created to ensure access to education in a competitive environment for football student-athletes throughout the State. By approving of degree programs offered across many HJCAC approved community colleges, students are afforded the opportunity to gain expansive academic opportunities while our coaches work to secure their future academic/playing opportunities at the university level. Our approved list of partner community colleges is able to provide the highest caliber Associates Degrees, transferable credits and a student-centric learning platform while the HJCAC is able to provide elite level coaching, life skills and an extensive recruiting network. We are here to help facilitate collegiate opportunities for the students that each of us serve.
We are a charity, an athletic league, not a school... being developed by coaches with an emphasis on academic integrity, athletic competitiveness, and student-athlete progress.
If you would like further information or to speak directly about what we are doing, we would welcome to hear from you. Easiest contact is via email, [email protected].
We appreciate you taking the time to read. It is our goal to improve the community college experience for all as a safe harbor for the multitude of athletic student services which seem to continue to be on the colleges budgetary chopping block.
Sincerely,
The HJCAC Board, Coaches, and Community
Believing in the importance of Junior College Athletics as a fundamental step in promoting the transformational growth of young people in our community, we could not sit back and accept this tragic loss of opportunity. Recognizing the long odds in actually seeing a reversal of the decision led a couple of coaches to begin securing corporate level sponsorship through a non-profit to bring community college football back to the State of Arizona.
The creation of the non-profit Athletic Advancement Association of America (AAAA) became the foundation for the return of football. In an attempt to return football to the valley it was important for the board to work cohesively with various individuals and entities including special advisors to the board with various ties to community college football, NCAA football, and strategic business partnerships.
The board believed that the formation of a conference was essential for policy development, rules oversight, and an eventual return to the NJCAA. This led to the creation of the Hohokam Junior College Athletic Conference (HJCAC). We chose this name as a way to pay homage to the State of Arizona and the large Native American communities located within its borders. Additionally, the name Hohokam roughly translates to “those who came before” and represents each of us as football coaches across the State that have tirelessly worked to develop academic and athletic opportunities for each of the student-athletes that we work with.
Beginning in the fall of 2019 the HJCAC will consist of 5 teams,with a goal of expanding to other areas of the state moving forward.
The HJCAC does not exist solely to offer an opportunity to play football, rather it was created to ensure access to education in a competitive environment for football student-athletes throughout the State. By approving of degree programs offered across many HJCAC approved community colleges, students are afforded the opportunity to gain expansive academic opportunities while our coaches work to secure their future academic/playing opportunities at the university level. Our approved list of partner community colleges is able to provide the highest caliber Associates Degrees, transferable credits and a student-centric learning platform while the HJCAC is able to provide elite level coaching, life skills and an extensive recruiting network. We are here to help facilitate collegiate opportunities for the students that each of us serve.
We are a charity, an athletic league, not a school... being developed by coaches with an emphasis on academic integrity, athletic competitiveness, and student-athlete progress.
If you would like further information or to speak directly about what we are doing, we would welcome to hear from you. Easiest contact is via email, [email protected].
We appreciate you taking the time to read. It is our goal to improve the community college experience for all as a safe harbor for the multitude of athletic student services which seem to continue to be on the colleges budgetary chopping block.
Sincerely,
The HJCAC Board, Coaches, and Community
Hear From HJCAC Executive Director Steven Weiss
Academic Partnership:
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