The List: HBCU Athletic Programs

A Comprehensive List of HBCU Colleges Sponsoring Athletics, The Sports They Sponsor, and Their Athletic Affiliations

Welcome to “The List!” This page provides a comprehensive resource of HBCU athletic programs. The opportunity to study and compete at an HBCU is an invitation to join the incredibly rich athletic tradition central to the culture of these schools for the past century! From the football “classics” that have drawn millions of fans dating back to the 1920’s to rivalries like the “Battle of the Firsts” between Cheyney (PA) State and Lincoln (PA) University, or the “BoomBox Classic” between Southern University and Jackson State, competing at an HBCU means participating in historically significant competitions central to the identities of these schools and communities.

There are 5 traditional HBCU conferences. In Division 1, the SWAC is original article. Along with the Ivy and the MEAC, its teams do not compete in the NCAA Football Championship, rather the East and West Divisions play for an opportunity to face the MEAC Champion in the Celebration Bowl. The SWAC’s membership is entirely made up of southern public institutions.

The MEAC encompasses Division 1 HBCU’s along the eastern seaboard, from Delaware to South Carolina, including Howard University in Washington, D.C. One of its biggest rivalries is outside the conference now, the “Real HU” competition between Howard and Hampton University (Hampton left the MEAC and is a member of the Big South Conference) continues to be one of the social events of year, even when both teams are struggling on the field.

The CIAA is the oldest HBCU circuit and competes in Division 2. Its men’s basketball conference tournament draws over 100,000 fans annually. The SIAC is the CIAA’s long standing southern rival and traditionally leads NCAA Division 2 in football attendance. In the NAIA, the GCAC is the only all-HBCU conference, although the Red River Athletic Conference is home to several former SWAC institutions.

The List: HBCU Athletic Programs

Generated by wpDataTables

* - one program is cross country only, see the school's website for details

Note: The conference listed for each institution is the primary affiliation of the athletic program. An individual sport program may compete as an affiliate in another conference based on any number of factors.

Find an error or omission? Please email [email protected] so we can update!


 

A Guide to Opportunities in HBCU Baseball

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have sponsored vibrant and successful baseball programs for over a century, and much like at the professional level, the history of these programs is one of incredible achievement. In the modern era, the strength of HBCU baseball is concentrated in the SWAC, SIAC, and in the NAIA, the Red River Athletic Conference. The SWAC and MEAC champions get automatic bids to the NCAA championships in Division 1, while the SIAC champion earns a spot in the Division 2 championship.

For more information on HBCU baseball across all divisions, Black College Nines is our suggested "go-to" source with coverage from members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. BCN also sponsors the HBCU Small College World Series.

Full disclosure: BCN writer Michael Coker was instrumental in advising College Athletic Advisor on developing and improving this list of programs.

These HBCU baseball programs provide exceptional student-athlete experiences, care for the whole student and consistently achieve success on and off the field.

Division 1:

Southern University (SWAC)

Coach: Chris Crenshaw (1 year, 1 NCAA Regional appearance)

Southern University has always been a championship contender in the SWAC, they have won 28 conference titles and made 11 trips to NCAA Regionals. Chris Crenshaw is entering his 2nd season managing the Jaguars, after a successful stint as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator and looks to be building from strength to strength after a success first season in Baton Rouge.

Jackson State University (SWAC)

Coach: Omar Johnson (16th year, 4 NCAA regional appearances)

Coach Johnson is a proven winner at Jackson State is a consistent 30 game winner who also has a record of consistently inspiring high level academic achievement. The Tigers recruit diversity and talent from around the world.

Bethune-Cookman University (SWAC)

Coach: Jonathan Hernandez (4th year)

The former ASA Miami coach takes over the traditional MEAC powerhouse as they transition to the SWAC. The program has moved from strength to strength, is recruiting at a high level and will make an immediate impact on the SWAC title race this spring.

Division 2:

Miles (AL) College (SIAC)

Coach: Ty Roberts (5th year, 2 NCAA Regional appearances)

Coach Roberts replaced the legendary Kenneth Hatcher at the helm of the SIAC’s most decorated program prior to the 2017 season. The program has consistently lead the conference and competed successfully against the best teams across NCAA Division 2.

Albany State (GA) University (SIAC)

Coach: Scott Hemmings (5th year)

Coach Hemmings took over the Albany State program when Dalton State's team was merged into Albany athletic department in 2017. He had lead Dalton to its first ever NJCAA World Series in 2016 and the program has since moved from strength to strength. The Golden Rams earned a SIAC regular season title and back-to-back championship game appearances prior to covid-19 shutting down competition.

Virginia State University (independent in baseball, CIAA in all other sports)

Coach: Merrill Morgan (20th year, 4 NCAA Regional appearances)

The Trojans continue to field a talented team and play at a highly competitive level despite the CIAA dropping the baseball as a conference sport. Without the automatic bid, it is difficult for them to qualify for the NCAA tournament, but they still have a number of post-season opportunities to play for and compete all over the southeast under Coach Morgan’s leadership.

Explore Our Other Great Resources

The Ultimate Recruiting Toolkit guides you to create the key pieces that engage college coaches and elevate your recruiting process.

Our Dynamic Dual Track College Search Timeline keeps you on track to reach your goals!

Click Here For Our "Programs That Inspire" Top 20 Lists!