Who's First? Setting the Record Straight
From 1957 to 2005, Black colleges have accounted for 21 national championships starting in the NAIA (13) and NCAA II (8).
African American head coaches (Black colleges /predominantly white colleges) have won a combined 24 titles.
Dave Robbins, the only white coach in the HBCU ranks to win a national championship has three (1984, 1992, 2005).
John McLendon, Jr. and Tennessee State (1957-58-59) and Lucias Mitchell and Kentucky State (1970-71-72) are the only schools to win three consecutive championships (NAIA)
NAIA II National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
| Year | School | Finals | Opponent | Head Coach | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1957 |
Tennessee State |
92-73 |
SE Oklahoma |
John B. McLendon, Jr. |
John Barnhill |
|
1958 |
Tennessee State |
85-73 |
W. Illinois |
John B. McLendon, Jr. |
Dick Barnett |
|
1959 |
Tennessee State |
97-87 |
Pacific Lutheran |
John B. McLendon, Jr. |
Dick Barnett |
|
1961 |
Grambling College |
95-75 |
Georgetown, KY |
Fred Hobdy |
Charles Hardnett |
|
1962 |
Prairie View A&M |
62–53 |
Westminster (PA) |
|
Zelmo Beaty |
|
1965 |
Central State, OH |
85-51 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
BIll Lucas |
Ken WIlburn |
|
1968 |
Central State, OH |
51-48 |
Fairmont State (WV) |
Bill Lucas |
Ken WIlburn |
|
1970 |
Kentucky State |
79-71 |
Central Washington |
Lucious Mitchell |
Elmore Smith |
|
1971 |
Kentucky State |
102–82 |
Eastern Michigan |
Lucious Mitchell |
Travis Grant |
|
1972 |
Kentucky State |
71-62 |
Wisconsin – Eau Claire |
Lucious Mitchell |
Travis Grant |
|
1976 |
Coppin State |
96–91 |
Henderson State (AR) |
Ron Mitchell |
Joe Pace |
|
1977 |
Texas Southern |
71–44 |
Campbell (NC) |
Ed Adams |
Bennie Swain |
John B. McLendon, Jr.
Tennessee State
(1957-58-59)
Bill Lucas
Central State, Ohio
(1965, 68)
Lucious Mitchell
Kentucky State
(1970-71-72)
NCAA II National Collegiate Athletic Association
| Year | School | Finals | Opponent | Head Coach | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1967 |
Winston-Salem State |
77-74 |
SW Missouri State |
Clarence Gaines |
Earl Monroe |
|
1974 |
Morgan State |
67-52 |
SW Missouri State |
Nat Frazier |
Marvin Webster |
|
1978 |
Cheyney State |
47-40 |
Wisconsin–Green Bay |
John Chaney |
Andrew Fields |
|
1980 |
Virginia Union |
80–74 |
New York Tech |
Dave Robbins |
Keith Valentine |
|
1982 |
District of Columbia |
73–63 |
Florida Southern |
Wil Jones |
Michael Britt |
|
1989 |
North Carolina Central |
73–46 |
SE Missouri State |
Mike Bernard |
Miles Clarke |
|
1992 |
Virginia Union |
100–75 |
Bridgeport |
Dave Robbins |
Derrick Johnson |
|
2005 |
Virginia Union |
63–58 |
Bryant |
Dave Robbins |
Antwan Walton |
Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines
Winston Salem State
(1967)
Dave Robbins
Virginia Union
(1980, 92. 05)
NCAA I National Collegiate Athletic Association
| Year | School | Finals | Opponent | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1984 |
84–75 |
Georgetown |
Houston |
John Thompson |
|
1994 |
Arkansas |
76–72 |
Duke |
Nolan Richardson |
|
2014 |
Connecticut |
60-54 |
Kentucky |
Kevin Ollie |
John Thompson
Georgetown
(1984)
Nolan Richardson
Arkansas
(1994)