played in the State of California...Wilberforce University Bulldogs defeated the Prairie View Panthers, 26-0
Notables: Head coach Billy Nicks
1967 WINSTON - SALEM STATE NCAA Div. II Champions
The Rams became the first Black college men's basketball national champions. Notables: Hall of Fame coach Clarence "Bighouse" Gaines, Earl "The Pearl" Monroe captured the Tournament Most Outstanding Coach and Player Awards. Others: Teddy Blount
1978 FIRST BLACK COLLEGE NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS: FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS
...Dec. 17. In the Pioneer Bowl, the FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS won the first NCAA Div. 1-AA Football Championship with a 35-28 victory over UMass…The Rattlers had a 12-1 SIAC conference record. The SIAC champion Rattlers were an “At Large” entry and defeated SWAC runnerup Jackson State, 15-10 to advance to the championship game.
Notables: Head coach Ruby Hubbard, DE Tyrone McGriff
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JAN. 1, 1948 VULCAN BOWL
Wilberforce outlasted the Grambling Tigers, 27 - 21 as the Green Wave (9-1-1), under head coach Gaston F. “Country” Lewis went on to win their first and only Black College National Football Championship over Eddie Robinson’s Tigers.
JAN. 12, 1950
MARYLAND STATE lost to DARTMOUTH, 60-59 in the first meeting between an Ivy League school and Black College basketball teams
Jan. 16, 1956
FIRST INTERRACIAL BASKETBALL GAMES held in Nashville, TN
Teams participating: FISK, TENNESSEE STATE, NORTH DAKOTA STATE and ROCKHURST COLLEGE
Jan. 25, 1979
FIRST BLACK COLLEGE ALL-STAR FOOTBALL GAME held in New Orleans Superdome
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Men's Tournament History:
CHAMPIONS
1955 TEXAS SOUTHERN
Led by ED ADAMS, the FIRST BLACK COACH inducted into the HELM HALL OF FAME, was the first Black college to appear in the NAIA National Invitational Tournament.
1957 TENNESSEE STATE A&I
The Tigers won the first Black College Men’s NAIA Basketball Championship when they defeated Southeast Oklahoma, 92-73. They were led by Hall of Fame coach John B. McLendon, Jr. and All-America Dick Barnett. MVP: Dick Barnett
1958-59 TENNESSEE STATE A&I
The Tigers defended their title and went on to win their third NAIA Men’s National Basketball Championship.
MVP Dick Barnett Head Coach: John B. McLendon. Jr.
1961 GRAMBLING COLLEGE
Led by tournament MVP Charles Hardnett and Hall of Fame center Willis Reed, they captured the NAIA Men’s Basketball Championship with a 95-75 victory over Georgetown, KY.
MVP: Hardnett, All-tourney: Hardnett, Reed
1962 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
The Panthers followed the Tigers of Grambling with their first NAIA Men’s NAIA title. All-America center Zelmo Beatty led the Panthers to a 62–53 victory over Westminster (Pa.)
MVP: Zelmo Beaty
1967 WINSTON-SALEM STATE
The Rams highlighted a 30-1 season with a 77-74 victory over Southwest Missouri State to become the first HBCU to win a NCAA title.
MOP: Earl Monroe
Head coach: Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines
1965, 68 CENTRAL STATE, OHIO
The Marauders won two NAIA titles, led by All-America and MVP center Ken Wilburn, defeating Oklahoma Baptist, 85-51 and a close win over Fairmont State, VA, 51-48 in 1968.
MVP: Ken Wilburn (65) Head coach: Bill Lucas
1970, 71, 72 KENTUCKY STATE
Led All-Americans Travis Grant and Elmore Smith, The Thorbreds performed the second NAIA triple championship run with victories over Central Washington, Eastern Michigan and Wisc-Eau Claire.
MVP: Travis Grant (71,72) Head coach: Lucius Mitchell
1974 MORGAN STATE
All-America center Marvin Webster led the Golden Bears to the national title in their first NCAA II appearance, defeating SW MO. State, 67-52
MOP: Marvin Webster,
All Tourney: Webster, Alvin O’Neal Head coach: Nat Frazier
1976 COPPIN STATE
The Eagles captured their first NAIA championship with a 96-91 win over Henderson State, AR.
MVP: Joe Pace (CSU)
Head coach: Ron “Fang” Mitchell
1977 TEXAS SOUTHERN
The first Black college to make an appearance in the NAIA tournament became the last to win the prestigious title. The Tigers finally broke through with their first NAIA title, defeating Campbell College, NC, 71-44. MVP: Alonzo Bradley (TSU) Head coach: Ed Adams
Apr. 1, 1960 -
Baltimore, MD
Trinidad State JC
Indiana State University
Saint Augustine’s College
1984 NCAA Div. II finals
New York Knicks
Los Angeles Clippers
Hapoel Holon, Israel
CHARLES JONES
Apr. 3, 1957-
McGehee, AR
Albany State College
One of the five Jones brothers
who starred in the ABA/NBA
EARL LLOYD
Apr. 3, 1928- Feb. 26, 2015
Alexandria, VA
West Virginia State University
First black NBA player 1950–51
NBA Hall of Fame
JOHN B. McLENDON, Jr.
Apr. 5, 1915- Oct. 8, 1999
Hiawatha, KS
Kansas University
Pioneer basketball coach
3 straight NAIA Tournament
championships, Tennessee State
Basketball Hall of Fame
National Collegiate Basketball
Hall of Fame
MAE FAGGS
Apr. 10, 1932 – Jan. 27, 2000
Mays Landing, Hamilton, NJ
Tennessee State University
Member, TSU Tiger Belles
2x 4X100M Olympic champion 3x 200M/220Y champion, 1954–1956
6x Indoor 220 yard dash champion, 1949 – 1956
TSU Hall of Fame
National Track and Field Hall of Fame
MEL BLOUNT
Apr. 10, 1948-
Vidalia, GA
Southern University
All-SWAC cornerback
4x Super Bowl champion
Pittsburgh Steelers
2x Defensive Player of the Year
Five NFL Pro Bowls
NFL 75th anniversary All-Time Team
NFL 100th Anniversary Team
Pro Football Hall of Fame
ALONZA “Jake” GAITHER
Apr. 11, 1903- February 18, 1994
Dayton, Tenn
Knoxville College
Among the all-time winningest
college football coaches Florida A&M University
6 Black College National Championships
College Football Hall of Fame
RALPH WILEY
Apr. 12, 1952 -
Orlando, FL
Knoxville College
Sportswriter for Sports Illustrated and ESPN's Page 2
KEN SIMPSON
Shreveport, LA
Apr. 12, 1960 -
Grambling State University ‘60
All-SWAC Basketball
Euroleague All-Star GSU Hall of Fame
MARVIN WEBSTER
Apr. 13, 1952- Apr. 4, 2009
Baltimore, MD
Morgan State University
3x MEAC Player of the Year
NCAA Div. II Men's Basketball
50th Anniversary All-Elite Eight Team
RAY HASKINS
Apr. 14, 1949 -
Baltimore, MD
Shaw University
All- CIAA Basketball
Head Basketball Coach,
LIU
DAVID POPE
Apr. 15, 1967- Oct. 21, 2016
Newport News, VA
Norfolk State University
1984 Utah Jazz 3rd Rnd Pick
NSU retired No. 34
Dr. ROBERT JOHNSON
Apr. 16, 1899 – Jun. 28, 1971
Norfolk, VA
Lincoln University
Penn
Meharry Medical College
Founder, the American Tennis Association
Junior Development Program for African-American Youths
Coached Wimbledon Champs Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson
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MARQUIS GRISSOM
Apr. 17, 1967-
Atlanta, GA
Florida A&M University
2× All-Star (1993, 1994)
World Series champion
Atlanta Braves (1995)
ALCS MVP (1997)
4 Gold Glove Awards
2-time NL Steals leader
THOMAS "Trooper" WASHINGTON
Apr. 21, 1944 – Nov. 19, 2004
Philadelphia, PA
Cheyney University ‘67
1967 NBA Cincinnati Royals
Pittsburgh / Minnesota Pipers
ABA All-Rookie Team, 1968
ABA champion, 1968
ABA All-Star, 1969
AL BUMBRY
Apr. 21, 1947-
Fredericksburg, VA
Virginia State University
Baltimore Orioles All-time
Steals Leader
SYLVIUS MOORE
Apr. 24, 1944 – Jul 8, 2007
Cape May, NJ
Hampton Institute/NYU
Hampton Multisport Coach
Co-founder, CIAA Swimming program
CLEO HILL, Sr.
Apr. 24, 1938 – Aug. 10, 2015
Newark, NJ
Winston-Salem State University
St. Louis Hawks 1961 1st Pick
NBA draft
1961–1968
College Basketball Hall of Fame
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KENNY POWELL
Apr. 28, 1919-
Johnson C. Smith University
All-time CIAA Track & Field Coach
Johnson C. Smith Head Coach
BARRY MITCHELL
Apr. 28, 1965-
Virginia Beach, VA
Norfolk State University
3x All-CIAA basketball player
Euro and CBA All-Star
2× WBL MVP & WBL champion
(1989, 1990)
JAKE FORD
Apr. 29, 1946- May 19, 1996
Georgetown, SC
Maryland State College
All-CIAA Basketball
Seattle Supersonics 2nd Rnd pick
HAROLD HUNTER
Apr. 30, 1926 – Mar. 7, 2013
Kansas City, KS
North Carolina College ‘50
NBA First black player signee
Washington Capitols, 1950
NCCU Hall of Fame
WILLIE SIMON
Apr. 31, 1936 – Nov. 17, 2004
West Columbia, SC
Allen University
Outstanding 3-sport Coach
