Former NFL Player Kevin Porter Becomes Head Coach At Central State University

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Central State University has found a new head football coach in Kevin Porter. Get the full story from Dayton Daily News below.

Kevin Porter

Central State University has selected former NFL player Kevin Porter as its new head football coach.

Porter comes to CSU with nearly two decades of coaching experience, including head coaching stints at Fort Valley State University, Avila University and Point University.

“During our national search, we received an influx of interest from qualified candidates. Throughout the process, Coach Porter stood out as the person with the right mindset and characteristics best suited to lead Marauder football into a new era. Coach Porter comes to CSU with a championship pedigree and a wide array of experiences as a coach and player on all levels of the game.” CSU Athletic Director Tara A. Owens said in a release. “Under Coach Porter’s guidance, we believe our student-athletes will flourish on the field and in the classroom. As Coach Porter prepares to lead our football program, we look forward to establishing a sustainable culture of positivity and success.”

Porter will make his CSU coaching debut in September against Winston Salem State University at the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton.

“It is an honor to be selected to lead the football program at Central State University. CSU has tremendous history and tradition. With the opportunity to work alongside the dynamic and innovative leadership of President Jack Thomas and Director of Athletics Tara A. Owens, I believe we can build CSU into a perennial championship contender,” Porter said in a release. “As the University continues to experience a period of growth and unprecedented success, we are going to build a football program that represents Central State University with pride and integrity. I look forward to leading our student-athletes as we move forward into a new era of Marauder football.”

At FVSU, Porter led the Wildcats to the 2016 SIAC Championship and returned to the title game in 2017. Porter’s four-year tenure at FVSU is considered to be one of the most successful eras in Wildcat football history. During his time coaching at FVSU, Porter earned SIAC Coach of the Year honors once and developed 19 All-SIAC student-athletes.

Porter began his coaching career in the Arena Football League in 2000. He was the head coach with the Pensacola Barracudas in 2000, the Macon Knights from 2001 to 2003 and the Kansas City Brigade from 2006 to 2008.

n 2009, Porter served as defensive coordinator for Mid America Nazarene University, where his unit ranked as one of the best in the Heart of America Conference. In 2010, Porter took over as the head football coach and athletic director at Avila University. The next season, he served in the same roles at Point University. Before his assignment at FVSU, Porter was the assistant head coach & secondary coach at the University of West Georgia.

Porter played collegiately at Auburn University. During his time as a Tiger, Porter was four-year starter. He earned All-American honors and was selected to the All-Southeastern Conference Team twice. In 1984, Porter was named Defensive MVP in the Liberty Bowl and earned a spot on Auburn’s Team of the Century.

A third-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1988 NFL Draft, Porter made an immediate impact during his first season, appearing in 15 games and making seven starts. At the conclusion of the season, Porter was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team as a safety. He spent six years in the NFL, ending his career with the New York Jets.

Porter and his wife, Annjela, have two sons, Jacob and Kellen.

Central State University will hold an on-campus press conference in January to publicly introduce Porter .

Morgan State University’s President David K. Wilson To Keynote MLK Commemoration At Purdue University

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson will serve as keynote during a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday commemoration next month. Get the full story from the Purdue University release below.

Morgan State University President David Wilson (Credit: Amy Davis)

David K. Wilson, whose transformative leadership as president of Morgan State University, Maryland’s preeminent public urban research university, has guided the historically Black university in Baltimore to new heights as a top-level research institution, will keynote Purdue University’s Martin Luther King Jr. commemorative celebration in January.

The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse on Purdue’s campus. It is free and open to the public and also will be livestreamed online.

Wilson’s lecture is part of a week of events celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., including a Day of Service focused on the theme of food justice and coordinated by Purdue’s Civic Engagement and Leadership Development office. Among the events will be a concert Jan. 19 by the internationally celebrated Morgan State University Choir. Renowned for its stirring performances, the choir performs a repertoire of gospel and contemporary popular music. The choir is noted for its emphasis on preserving the heritage of the spiritual, especially in the historic practices of performance. Morgan’s choir will be joined onstage by members of Purdue’s Black Voices of Inspiration and Purdue Musical Organizations for portions of the evening’s concert. 

Additional events and programs will be released at the start of spring semester.

Wilson is a former chancellor in the University of Wisconsin system, associate provost at Auburn University, and associate provost of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He was appointed president of Morgan State in 2010, and the university has soared since. Under his leadership, Morgan has:

  • Achieved an elevated classification of R2, a status reserved for doctoral universities with high research activity. Morgan is on the path to become the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to reach R1.
  • Completed the $250 million Anniversary Campaign, the largest in the school’s history.
  • Undertaken more than $1 billion in campus construction and planned construction for state-of-the-art institutional and academic facilities.
  • Secured the university’s largest ever research contract, a $28.5 million contract from NASA.
  • Broadened its academic offering with the addition of more than 40 new degree programs to its present number of 140 (up from 96 a decade ago) and introduction of the internationally known and accredited School of Global Journalism and Communication (2013) and the College of Interdisciplinary and Continuing Studies (2021) – home to Morgan Completes You.
  • Significantly increased retention, graduation rates and enrollment. Morgan welcomed its largest incoming class of first-year students and its highest student enrollment in the university’s history in fall 2021.

“President Wilson inspires the nation, and we are thrilled to have him share his experiences and motivate people to personal, civic and even career action,” said John Gates, Purdue’s vice provost for diversity and inclusion. “As we honor the legacies of these two great institutions and our emergent partnership, I expect that we will engage with Dr. King’s vision of the beloved community. We invite all to join us for these exciting events.”

Born and raised in the small town of McKinley, Alabama, Wilson was the first person in his family to attend college. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science in 1977 and a Master of Education degree in 1979 from Tuskegee University. He continued his education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he earned an additional Master of Education (’84) and a Doctor of Education degree (’87). He is the author of two books and more than 20 articles in scholarly journals and other publications.

Among the leading voices in higher education administration, Wilson has served on numerous boards including the NCAA Board of Governors and Division I Board of Directors (as head of the NCAA Standardized Test Score Task Committee and member of the NCAA Finance Committee),  Lumina Foundation Board of Directors, National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST’s) Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology, HBCU/China Network (chair), Maryland Cybersecurity Council and the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Governing Board, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (Finance Committee chair).

Wilson was profiled in a Baltimore Sun story in September as an honoree for the newspaper’s 2021 Business and Civic Hall of Fame.

After Time In Interim Position, Robert Massey Is Officially Head Football Coach At WSSU

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Robert Massey is set to officially head the football program at Winston-Salem State University. Get the full story from John Dell at Greensboro News & Record below.

Robert Massey was hired as the head coach at Winston-Salem State after the school conducted a nationwide search. Credit: Allison Lee Isley/Lee Newspapers

Meet the new boss; same as the old boss.

Winston-Salem State has hired Robert Massey as its full-time head football coach. He had been the interim head coach since May of 2019, but won’t have that label anymore.

After a national search with close to 40 applicants, Athletics Director Etienne Thomas and Chancellor Elwood Robinson decided to stay with Massey despite his 7-12 record in the two seasons he has been the head coach.

“I’m humbled to be in this position and I’m grateful,” Massey said in the news conference announcing the choice to be the 10th head football coach in the storied history of the school. “I don’t take this opportunity lightly and we are going to work hard to get us back to where we belong.”

The school’s board of trustees approved the decision at around 3:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon.

Massey guided the program through a COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when there was no football season. Instead, he kept the team together and they accumulated a 3.0 grade point average during the academic year.

The Rams have a long way to go to be contenders in the CIAA, but by keeping Massey they are giving him and his young staff another chance. Massey said he loves that he has young assistant coaches such as Marvin Bohannon, Kam Smith, Markus McElveen, Corey Stewart and Malcolm Gaither. Bohannon, Smith and Stewart are all WSSU graduates and McElveen played for Massey when they were both at Shaw.

Massey broke down twice during his news conference, the first time after introducing his young assistant coaches. He said they stuck by him during the entire process.

“I love you guys — and I know I don’t say it enough — but you mean the world to me and I’m ready to fight with you guys as we build this thing,” Massey said.

The other time Massey broke down was when he talked about starting a scholarship in his mother’s name, Annie Belle Massey, that would benefit a student at WSSU and also a football player with two separate scholarships. He has already donated $10,000 of his pay to get the scholarships rolling.

“This is something that I’m very proud about because she’s the one that told me when I was in college (N.C. Central) I needed to get a degree,” Massey said, fighting back tears. “And that’s something I’m adamant about when I recruit players now. Football is important, but getting that degree sets you up for life.”

Thomas praised Massey at the end of last season, and said she would give him ample opportunity to interview for the job.

After Massey, 55, replaced Kienus Boulware, who was fired in May of 2019, the Rams went 4-6. Massey went 3-6 last season and in his two seasons went 7-12, but the Rams haven’t been factors in the CIAA’s Southern Division since 2016.

In his three stops as a head coach at Livingstone, Shaw and WSSU, Massey, a former player in the NFL, has compiled a 23-56 record.

Robinson said there was plenty that stuck out for him during the interview process with Massey.

“One of the lowest points we had in the season was after our loss to Chowan (73-7), but he stood tall,” Robinson said. “We had a conversation and he told me we would get better and do the right thing. And also his sense of values and how he treats his players.

“If I had a son that was interested in football, I would want him to play for Robert Massey.”

One thing that will have to change if WSSU is serious about contending in the CIAA is that it needs to have more than just 22 scholarships. That’s a far cry from the maximum of 36 allowed in Division II.

Earlier this week, Thomas talked about trying to get to 30 scholarships in football.

Bowie State, the CIAA champion, and Fayetteville State, the Southern Division champion the past four seasons, are winning without 36 scholarships. The Bulldogs have around 18 scholarships, according to Clyde Doughty, Jr., the athletics director at Bowie State.

When WSSU was in the Division II championship game in 2012 Coach Connell Maynor had 29 scholarships as they went a school-best 14-1. Since then, the scholarships have dwindled for football and that has resulted in the program becoming a middle-of-the pack team in the CIAA.

“It’s about getting more resources, and we have to work with the university to partner for more scholarships,” Thomas said. “We would like to get toward 30 and then work toward the maximum (of 36 for Division II) but we know that’s going to take some work.”

Robinson said he’s determined to increase the scholarship dollars. Thomas said part of her plan is also to work with corporate sponsors to help raise revenue.

“To have a successful program you have to have the right amount of resources,” Robinson said. “What AD Thomas and I have done is look not only at football but at all our sports as to how to get additional resources. As you know athletics is mainly funded by student fees and beyond that we have to fund raise.”

Thomas said: “We realize that corporations don’t want their sponsorship money going toward scholarships, but if we can move money around from other areas to gain more scholarship dollars we will certainly look at doing that.”

According to Thomas, who was hired in January of 2020 and has only been through one football season, there were close to 40 applicants for the vacant job.

“We thought the search went smooth and there was interest from all over the country,” Thomas said.

Massey will get a four-year contract worth $90,000 a year. The last full-time coach, Boulware, was getting $130,000 a year, but Thomas said that extra money would go toward another full-time assistant coach.

For the two and half years that Massey was the interim, he was making around $62,000 a year. He was the defensive coordinator under Boulware, but was elevated to head coach on an interim basis in the spring of 2019.

Massey came to WSSU in 2016 as a defensive backs coach. That’s the last time WSSU won the CIAA championship.

Darryl Perkins, who lives in Rural Hall, has been a Horn’s member for several years. The Horn’s Club is one of the main fund-raising clubs for WSSU athletics. Perkins is a 1976 graduate of WSSU and is an active alum.

“We need resources in the worst way,” Perkins said about the hiring of Massey as the permanent coach. “We can be unhappy and wait until the wheels fall off or we can roll up our sleeves and encourage more giving or more fundraising. I would like to be 12-0 like everyone else….But this is my university, but I’m not disgruntled. It’s my job as an alum to try and do all that I can to help the university succeed on the football field.”

9 High School Band Seniors Each Receive $50K Scholarships To Play For Langston University

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Several high school band members have each been offered a significant scholarship to attend Langston University! The exciting offer came amid 60 band members visiting the HBCUs. Get the full story from Click2Houston below.

Credit: Click2Houston

Students learned of the scholarships to Langston University during a tryouts trip to Oklahoma

All nine senior members of the Worthing High School Marching Pride of Sunnyside Band have received $50,000 scholarships to play for Langston University, the Houston Independent School District announced Monday.

The scholarships were announced during a trip to Oklahoma for band tryouts back in November, but were made widely known on the school’s blog last week.

“The best moment of the trip was seeing the excitement of my seniors once they received their scholarships – nine students with over $50,000 each,” said band director Kuan Mitchell. “I couldn’t have written the script any better.”

All 60 members of the band, including its dancers, traveled to Langston University on Nov. 12. The university is a historically Black college 40 miles north of Oklahoma City. The students toured the campus, practiced with the Langston University band, and met its director, and were able to perform during the football game with the university band, according to the school’s blog about the scholarships.

Principal Everett Hare also took part in the trip and called the scholarships a “major achievement.”

“I’ve never seen it where all of them earned scholarships,” Hare said. “Other schools also took part, so it was competitive.”

Hare said the experience was potentially life-changing for all members of the band, even the underclassmen.

“Some of the students had never visited a college campus,” he said.

Worthing alumni now attending Langston answered questions from the students who traveled from Houston.

The Worthing band will represent Houston at next year’s National 4th of July celebrations in Washington, D.C., according to the district.

Inaugural Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic To Create Continued Opportunities For HBCUs

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Supported by celebrities like Michael B. Jordan and Serena Williams, the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic went off without a hitch. While the HBCU basketball games, college fair, performances, and more were worth tuning into, there’s a bigger stake in the inaugural event in the long term. Get the full story from Michael LoRé at Forbes below.

The inaugural Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic featured four HBCU men’s basketball programs. Credit: Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Legacy is everything to Michael B. Jordan.

“I just want to be known as someone who helps people, who made it easier, brought people together and afforded other people opportunities that I had,” Jordan says. “While I’m here now and have the momentum, I want to set up things for other people so when I’m gone, this shit can keep going.”

Motivated by his desire to provide opportunities for others, especially students, student-athletes and alumni of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the Emmy-nominated actor/producer partnered with Invesco QQQ, Turner Sports, WME Sports, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, and Scout Sports and Entertainment to host the inaugural Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic on December 18 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

In addition to a men’s college basketball doubleheader broadcast nationally on TNT featuring Delaware State University vs. North Carolina Central University and Howard University vs. North Carolina A&T University, the day also included a college fair, slam dunk contest, career fair, musical performance by Cordae, and startup pitch competition in a celebration of HBCU life, culture and community.

“You can’t just talk about it, you gotta walk it,” Jordan, 34, says. “I wanted to lead by example and be the first one to put my money where my mouth was and go forward with this. Now I need help, I need other people to follow. I need other people to see this is what’s going on over here and say, ‘How can I be involved? How can I help?’

“You see CP3 with what he’s doing and how he’s been supporting HBCUs, Melo, Bron, J.R. Smith going back to college. You start to make alliances with people who are going to make HBCUs not just a talking point and a cool moment, but cool in general, an aspirational place to be.”

Joining Jordan in his support of HBCUs during the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic was 23-time singles Grand Slam champion Serena Williams. Via Serena Ventures and MaC Venture Capital, Williams and Jordan invested $1 million in construction industry management app TracFlo, whose app streamlines contractor documents and workflow operations for construction projects. Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s Thirty Five Ventures served as an advisor during the pitch competition, which was sponsored by Audible and Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator.

The investment is crucial to an underrepresented and under-supported demographic in venture capital—Black and Latinx founders raised $2.3 billion in 2020, representing just 2.6% of the total $87.3 billion in funding that went to all founders that year according to Crunchbase.

For Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Swin Cash, who serves on the Board of Advisors for Invesco QQQ’s financial education program How Not to Suck at Money, the Invesco QQQ Legacy Classic provides much-needed and much-deserved resources and opportunities that aren’t as easily accessible to HBCU students and student-athletes compared to those at Power 5 Conferences and/or predominately white institutions (PWIs).

“I didn’t think about all the different things I had at my fingertips or that I was able to have access to when I was playing at UConn because it was just there,” says Cash, New Orleans Pelicans vice-president of basketball operations and team operations. “If you look at a lot of HBCUs, they may not have the same level of resources, and an event like the Legacy Classic bringing those opportunities means a lot to those students. I was happy to see the thought process wasn’t, ‘Hey, we’re just going to play a basketball game.’”

Jordan, who previously challenged Hollywood to hire, support and amplify more Black creatives, says the Legacy Classic will continue to grow and evolve with the goal of turning it into more of a tournament while also including women’s basketball, egaming and other educational and career opportunities around coding and computer science.

“You look at all these other invitationals and classics that are out there that get nationally televised games, that get the notoriety, and get the investors, you don’t really have that system so you have to start somewhere,” Jordan says, “so I figured I’d start here in my hometown of Newark.”

Hillman Homecoming Is The Perfect Party For Fun And Philanthropy

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

 Catch our 2021 recap here!

New York City was the place to be last Saturday during this year’s Hillman Homecoming. Presented by Mastercard and sponsored by Amazon’s Black Employee Network (BEN) NY Metro Chapter, the event was created in 2014 to celebrate our HBCU culture and the alumni and supporters that keep their legacies alive. The annual event is not to be missed, but if your invite got lost in the mail this year, allow us to give you the rundown on everything that went down!

When it comes to HIllman Homecoming, you can expect the same homecoming energy that you would find on your own campus. Set at the famous 40/40 Club, music sets were rocked by entertainers like DJ Aktive, of Jimmy Fallon’s That’s My Jam and tours for Janet Jackson and Diddy. Virginia State University alum DJ Economix and DJ Two1Five were also on the turntables. They kept the good vibes going along with partner Tito’s Handmade Vodka, who kept the drinks flowing with a special list of signature cocktails. The event was hosted by celebrity North Carolina A&T State University alumnus Terrence J. There were also appearances from celebrities like Michael Rainey Jr. of hit TV shows like Power and Ghost, plus entertainer TravQue.

All the fun isn’t for nothing, as it’s all to give back to New York area high school students! Through the Puissance HBCU Scholarship, high school students planning to attend HBCUs in the fall will receive the financial support they need. 2021 marks this fundraiser’s fifth year, and a jarring $7,500 was raised! The nonprofit was founded by Howard University and Hampton University alumni, and has since grown to have alumni of N.C. A&T, Morehouse College, and Florida A&M University. Over $25,000 has been awarded to HBCU students all over the country, allowing them to enter their freshman year with the confidence they need to succeed. 

JSU Football Player Arrested Amid COVID Relief Fraud Allegations

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

A Jackson State University linebacker who previously played at the University of Southern California is facing serious charges after authorities allege he and others defrauded the government of thousands in COVID-19 relief funds. Get the full story from Mark Schlabach at ESPN below.

A Jackson State football player was arrested by federal authorities Monday and is accused of devising a scheme to fraudulently obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-related unemployment benefits, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Abdul-Malik McClain, 22, allegedly orchestrated the scheme with other players while he was attending USC in 2020. He pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of mail fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. He was released on $20,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court again Feb. 15.

McClain, a linebacker from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, transferred to Jackson State last December. His name no longer appears on the Tigers’ roster on the athletic department’s website.

According to the indictment, “McClain organized and assisted a group of other football players in filing fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits, including under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program established by Congress in response to the pandemic’s economic fallout. The indictment alleges that the claims — which were filed with the California Employment Development Department (EDD), the administrator of the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) benefit program — contained false information about the football players’ supposed prior employment, pandemic-related job loss, and job-seeking efforts in California.”

The indictment stated that McClain caused at least three dozen fraudulent applications for relief to be submitted that sought at least $903,688 in benefits; at least $227,736 was paid out.

In October 2020, ESPN reported that McClain’s brother, Munir McClain, had been suspended by USC in connection with his role in the alleged scheme. The Los Angeles Times reported that Munir acknowledged that he applied for financial relief from the PUA program but said he was under the impression he qualified because his source of income — reselling high-end shoes — had dried up during the pandemic, the Times reported.

Munir McClain, a wide receiver, transferred to Utah and played in two games this season.

The Justice Department release said the government authorized Bank of America to issue debit cards to the football players, which they allegedly used to make cash withdrawals to fund personal expenses. The government alleges that Abdul-Malik McClain “sought and obtained a cut for helping others file fraudulent UI applications.”

“McClain and his co-schemers also allegedly filed applications in their own names, in the names of other friends and associates, and in the names of identity theft victims,” the Justice Department release said. “According to the indictment, these claims also falsely stated that the claimants were self-employed workers, including athletic trainers and tutors, who had lost work in California as a result of the pandemic.”

Each mail fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The aggravated identity theft counts carry a two-year mandatory prison sentence consecutive to any sentence imposed on the mail fraud counts.

The government’s release did not identify the university or any other players who might be under investigation.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura contributed to this report.

Philander Smith College Receives $2.5M In Largest Gift Ever

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Students and administration at Philander Smith College are rejoicing after receiving their largest-ever donation! Get the full story from Jaime Adame at Arkansas Democrat Gazette below.

A $2.5 million gift to Philander Smith College will help close the financial gaps for students at the historically Black college recently ranked as among the nation’s top 10 most accessible schools for lower-income students.

Announced as the largest gift in the Little Rock college’s 144-year history, the money comes from an “anonymous donor,” said Roderick Smothers, the college’s president, in a statement Wednesday.

“This monumental donation will provide tremendous opportunities for our scholars who hail from every walk of life. This gesture not only affects the lives of our students but communities across the nation,” Smothers said.

Scholarships — over 250 to be awarded annually for the next three academic years — will help students “push through to the finish line” and complete their degrees, Smothers added. The new initiative will be known as the Generational Access and Affordability Program.

The college enrolled about 700 students this fall, according to the state Division of Higher Education. For students who entered in the fall of 2014, the six-year graduation rate was 34%, according to federal data.

Carmen Bradford, the college’s marketing coordinator, said Wednesday that the donor is an individual, with no additional information available about their identity.

The same donor in August gave $250,000 to Philander Smith College, also for student scholarships, according to Wednesday’s announcement of the gift.

In recent days, Fort Valley State University in Georgia and Talladega College in Alabama — also historically Black colleges and universities — have announced $2.5 million “anonymous” gifts supporting student scholarships.

Philander Smith College ranked ninth among all colleges nationally in its “access rate” for students coming from households where earnings were $46,000 and below, according to a report published last month from the United Negro College Fund’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute.

The report examined all colleges, finding that historically Black colleges and universities made up four of the top 10 four-year schools as ranked by “access rate,” defined in the report as the percentage of students from what’s considered the bottom 40% of household earnings.

Philander Smith College’s “access rate” was 69.1%, according to the report, which highlighted that historically Black colleges and universities had an average “access rate” of 51.3% compared with a nationwide college average of 22.5%.

The report examined 1,285 colleges, including 50 historically Black colleges and universities. Available data on students born in 1980-82 showed that historically Black colleges and universities — with their larger percentage of lower-income students — also had a higher economic “mobility rate,” defined in the report as the share of a college’s students moving from the bottom 40% in household income into the top 60%.

The new Philander Smith College scholarships will range from $1,500 to $5,000 annually and be given out starting this spring, Bradford said, with award amounts to factor in account balances owed by students.

Amounts will average $3,500 per award, Bradford said.

“We really want them to graduate without them having to take out so many loans,” Bradford said.

Priority for the scholarships will go to students majoring in certain career-focused disciplines that include computer science, criminal justice, business administration, social work, biology and education, Bradford said.

Other criteria for the scholarships include demonstrating a commitment to the college’s social justice mission, according to Wednesday’s announcement.

“We are committed to our mission to graduate academically accomplished students grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to change the world for the better,” Smothers said.

Administration At Virginia State University State Gift Over 30 Bikes To Children

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Virginia State University administration members are being credited for supporting the youth in their Petersburg community. Get the full story in the VSU release below.

Credit: Virginia State University

VSU administration partners with Petersburg for bicycle distribution to Petersburg children. 

Each member of the Virginia State University administration purchased a bicycle for distribution to a Petersburg child as part of a “VSU Gives Back” holiday initiative. On Thursday, December 16, 2021, the administration and other VSU employees collected and donated more than 30 bicycles. 

“I am beyond grateful to my administration for participating in this VSU Gives Back Holiday Initiative. Thank you to our Assistant Vice President of Communications, Gwen Williams Dandridge for spearheading and organizing this,” said VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. “At Virginia State University, we look for opportunities to give, to serve, and to partner. This bike initiative allows us to do all three while also making a difference in the life of several young children during this holiday season.” 

VSU partnered with the City of Petersburg for the bicycle distribution. The Petersburg Department of Social Services identified children to receive the bicycles and the Petersburg Public Information Office coordinated the distribution of the bicycles.  

“The City of Petersburg thanks VSU’s Leadership team for their contribution of bicycles to children in need in Petersburg. Too many children often make do with hand-me-downs,” said Petersburg Mayor, Samuel Parham. “By donating these bikes, VSU is giving many disadvantaged children an uplifting experience of receiving and enjoying something new during the holiday season. The bikes are also a great gift for encouraging our children to get outside and exercise. Petersburg appreciates the ongoing partnership with VSU and the University’s support of the city.”  

“Our children have spent the better part of nearly two years navigating the challenges of a pandemic.  Research shows that youth mental health is now a national state of emergency,” said Gwen Williams Dandridge, VSU Assistant Vice President for Communications. “This is our way of making a difference. We hope our donated bicycles will help to encourage the youth to get outside, exercise, and enjoy the beauty of being a child with the knowledge that their neighbors at Virginia State University care about their well-being.”

Mary McLeod Bethune Statue To Replace Confederate Statue at the Capitol

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

A statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, a founder of Bethune-Cookman University, is heading to the Capitol after being toured in places like Florida. Get the full story from Kynala Phillips of NBC News below.

The statue of Mary McLeod Bethune on display at the Daytona State College’s News-Journal Center in Florida.Courtesy Rep. Kathy Castor

The statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, a civil rights activist born to former slaves, will represent Florida in the National Statuary Hall Collection, starting in 2022.

Civil rights activist and Bethune-Cookman University founder Mary McLeod Bethune will soon make history again. 

She will be the first Black person to represent a state in the National Statuary Hall Collection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The renowned educator’s Florida-commissioned statue will be placed permanently in the Capitol in February 2022, replacing the statue of a confederate general. 

Standing at 11 feet tall and weighing in at 6,000 pounds, the statue shows Bethune in a cap and gown to signify her dedication to education. It also features a stack of her own books piled next to her. A smaller bronze version will also be placed in Riverfront Park near Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard.

The statue was created by Nilda Comas, a decorated sculptor who splits her time between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Pietrasanta, Italy. She will be the first Latina sculptor with a piece in the Capitol’s collection, according to NPR.

The statue of Mary McLeod Bethune on display at the Daytona State College’s News-Journal Center in Florida.Courtesy Rep. Kathy Castor

In 2016, then-Gov. Rick Scott approved a measure to remove the statue of Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, who was born in Florida, from the Statuary Hall. The bronze was removed in September and temporarily transported to a Florida museum. 

The Florida Department of State’s Division of Arts and Culture reviewed the names of more than 3,000 Floridians to replace that statue, narrowing it down to 130 potential subjects. It chose Bethune after receiving 1,233 votes in favor of her to represent the state, according to Evolve Magazine, a business publication based in Florida. The statue was temporarily on display at the Daytona State College’s News-Journal Center until Dec. 12 and will be shipped to Washington. 

“Dr. Bethune embodies the very best of the Sunshine State — Floridians and all Americans can take great pride in being represented by the great educator and civil rights icon,” U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., said in a statement.  

Who was Mary McLeod Bethune?

Born in South Carolina in 1875, Bethune was one of 17 children. Her parents were formerly enslaved and the family picked cotton to make a living. Nonetheless, Bethune was committed to her education. She eventually graduated from Scotia Seminary, a Presbyterian boarding school for Black girls, in 1894.

Mary McLeod Bethune, circa 1920. Chicago History Museum / Getty Images

Next, she went north to Chicago to study at the Moody Bible Institute, with the goal of doing missionary work in Africa. At the time, she was the only Black student enrolled. There, she established Sunday schools in neglected parts of Chicago, worked with prisoners in city jails, and helped with the Pacific Garden Mission, which housed and fed hundreds of people each day.

When she sought an opportunity for mission work in Africa, the Presbyterian Board of Missions denied her request and instead sent her to Georgia, where she worked at a school for Black girls. Soon after, she married Albert Bethune, and eventually the couple and their child moved to Florida. While teaching in Palatka, Florida, she learned of the poor living and educational conditions of Black residents of Daytona Beach. 

Soon, Bethune started a school in Daytona with a commitment to provide Black girls a higher quality education.

Bethune was resourceful. She created her own pencils using charred wood and elderberries for ink. 

The school offered courses in science, business and liberal arts, according to the National Women’s History Museum. 

The school would later combine with the Cookman Institute, an all-male school, to form Bethune-Cookman, a coeducational high school, in 1923. After becoming affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the school became a college, and is now a university. However, Bethune’s advocacy didn’t stop there. She remained a tireless champion for African American women and girls. 

Two years after Bethune-Cookman formed, she became the president of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs. And in 1935, she founded the National Council of Negro Women. 

She served as the only woman on President Franklin Roosevelt’s advisory board of Black leaders, which Bethune dubbed the “Black Cabinet.” Roosevelt appointed her to the National Youth Administration, a New Deal program, and she oversaw employment opportunities and job training for young people across the country. 

“If I have a legacy to leave my people, it is my philosophy of living and serving,” Bethune said in her final will and testament, in which she explained how she expects her legacy to be love, hope and a “thirst for education.” 

Tuskegee University Veterinarian’s Medical Device Lands Patent

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

A veterinarian at Tuskegee University has landed a patent for her new medical device! Get the full story from the Tuskegee release below.

Tuskegee University veterinary faculty member Dr. Deidre Quinn-Gorham is making it her mission to use a new patent to produce a multiple blade handle system for performing surgeries. Many surgical or medical procedures require the use of distinct types and sizes of scalpel blades which may also require the user to change to a different scalpel handle to accommodate those blades. Her new method may have proved helpful in being a “do-all” scalpel handle in the hands of a medical or veterinary medical professional.

Quinn-Gorham’s device, “Multiple Blade Handle System, also called the Manifold Scalpel Handle,” allows for an easier fit for a distinct size and type of scalpel blades to fit onto a single handle. She projects the new handle system will eliminate the need to use other individual handles.

“The handle idea was created from an experience that I had while performing a surgical procedure as a third-year veterinary student at Tuskegee University’s School (now College) of Veterinary Medicine,” explained Quinn-Gorham. “Midway through the surgery, the procedure required changing to a different sized scalpel blade that fit a different sized scalpel handle.”

Since then, Quinn-Gorham always had an idea for one scalpel handle that could conveniently fit diverse sizes and types of blades. This idea inspired her to experiment and create a few rough 3D designs. She then sought the expertise of one of her mentors in additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing), aerospace engineer Dr. Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi. Asundi, in conjunction with one of his former students, Jimesh Bhagatji, further developed the design idea into a finalized drawing and then into a functional prototype.

“The Manifold can be produced in different models (i.e., double ends or with an extendable shaft), different types of materials such as metals, eco-friendly plastics for disposable use, and using different methods of production such as machining or 3D printing,” noted Quinn-Gorham.

Under the patent, commercially, the handle can be marketed and utilized in industries where scalpel handles are in high demand. The diversity of the handle’s use, production, and marketability will make it an asset to economic growth and technological advancement.

About the Inventors:

Dr. Deidre Quinn-Gorham, a native of Tuskegee, is a faculty member in the Department of Pathobiology at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently involved in various teaching and research activities in Parasitology, focusing on continuing her research on the environmental control of zoonotic small animal Hookworms. She has established a 3D printing lab within her department to incorporate 3D printing technology into the veterinary medical program. She aspires to teach this technology to veterinary students and have veterinary, and engineering students collaborate on 3D printing projects in veterinary medicine. Dr. Quinn-Gorham has remained active in using her vast and diverse background in technology to create several teaching animations, learning modules and provide technical support or consultation for various veterinary medical courses, including Parasitology. She is a three-time graduate from Tuskegee University, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Master of Veterinary Science degree, and a Doctoral of Veterinary Medicine degree.

Dr. Sharanabasaweshwara Asundi, a native of India, is a Ph.D. from the University of Florida working as an Assistant Professor of Space Systems Engineering in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University (ODU). Currently, he is engaged in several teaching, and research activities focused on furthering the Space Systems Engineering Program at ODU. He has been involved in research collaboration with NASA Goddard as a Science Collaborator. He has been awarded grants by the U.S. Air Force, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture to research Magnetic Mapping of Pico/Nano/Micro-Satellites and study the impact of magnetic field exposure on plant germination, growth.

Jimesh Bhagatji, specializes in bringing ideas to life through constant innovation and is currently pursuing an M.S./Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University. Bhagatji is experienced in product development from the ideation phase to the qualification phase across a wide range of Industry from space-qualified systems to medical instruments and devices. He specializes in structure simulation of solid and fiber composites on various commercial CAE platforms.

Morgan State University Receives Additional Gift of $2.5M From Anonymous Donor

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Morgan State University has received $2.75 million in total from an anonymous donor who gave once, and then donated again! Get more information from the MSU release below.

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson today announced receipt of a new $2.5-million gift from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The latest gift follows an initial $250,000 from the donor, made in October. The total of $2.75 million in resources will be invested in students, providing access to a college education for as many as 83 scholars per semester through the establishment of the Leading the Future scholarship fund. In an already historic year of giving to the University, this latest gift is the second largest received from a non-alumnus.

“We are appreciative and excited that individuals are continuing to invest in Morgan publicly or anonymously and are creating opportunities for many of our students to have the financial assistance needed for them to stay in college,” said President Wilson. “Through the establishment of this scholarship, we look to positively impact the student academic experience by helping our scholars connect to transformational opportunities and resources that can get them over the finish line to graduation and beyond.”

After receiving the initial gift of $250,000, which was used to support students from diverse backgrounds who were seeking to enroll at Morgan, the University was gifted an additional $2.5 million from the same donor to expand upon its educational work and create more access for prospective students to attend college. With the latest gift, the University established the Leading the Futurescholarship fund. Beginning in spring 2022, up to $5,000 per semester will be awarded to as many as 83 students toward covering their tuition, fees, room and board, and textbook expenses. Award preference will be given to first-generation college students and to students who are either involved in community activism or are majoring in hospitality/culinary, engineering, computer science, health care or business.

As an additional component of the Leading the Future scholarship program, students will participate in career services programming; group meetings with the Office of Student Success and Retention’s student scholars and strategic partners specialist; and networking/professional development events with industry leaders, Morgan alumni or peer mentors.

“When you think about the transformative power of higher education and the many students who will benefit from this generous gift, you can’t help but think about the exponential benefits higher education has on families and communities,” said Donna Howard, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “We are grateful for the opportunity this gift provides to expand support for our students and for the recognition a gift of this magnitude brings to Morgan.”

This latest gift is a continuation of the historic investment Morgan has received over the last 12 months, including, among others, very high-profile gifts such as $40 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, $20 million from Morgan alumnus Calvin Tyler, $2.7 million from financier Mike Novogratz, $5 millionfrom Google, $1.25 million from Apple, $1 million from the Baltimore Ravens and $500,000 from NBCUniversal/Comcast.

Added Wilson, “We are committed to establishing the University as a global institution, achieving the highest level of research activity, revitalizing the community and revamping services to be comprehensive and student-centric. The types of investments we are currently receiving will go a long way toward achieving these goals.”

President Biden Joins Rep. Jim Clyburn At South Carolina State University Commencement

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

South Carolina State University received two very special guests during it’s commencement over the weekend! Get the full story from Barbara Sprunt at NPR below.

Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., second from left, holds his history degree with South Carolina State University Interim President Alexander Conyers, second from right, on stage with President Biden and Rodney Jenkins, chair of the Board of Trustees, right, during the South Carolina State University’s 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony in Orangeburg, S.C., on Friday.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

Sixty years after Jim Clyburn received his diploma from South Carolina State University by mail, the House majority whip returned to his alma mater to march alongside current graduates and receive his diploma in person from the president of the United States. 

Clyburn, the sole congressional Democrat from South Carolina, delivered commencement remarks to December graduates and talked about his time at the HBCU, where he met his late wife, Emily. 

“She came to this campus from a little 22-acre farm in Berkeley County. I don’t know what was expected of her but I know what she did,” he said. “She came across a little wayward guy from Sumter, South Carolina, and turned him into a U.S. congressman.”

Clyburn, a longtime ally of President Biden, shared how his wife pulled him aside in 2020 and insisted on their support of Biden for president.

“She said to me, ‘If we want to succeed in this upcoming election, we had better nominate Joe Biden,’ ” he said. “She passed away before the South Carolina primary, but what she said to me that night stayed on my mind. When I looked among those 20-some odd candidates running for the Democratic nomination, several of whom were very close friends of ours, I remembered what she said to me. And I followed her directions, just as I had for the 58 years that we were married.”

President Biden delivered the keynote address at South Carolina State University’s fall commencement ceremony on Friday.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

Biden, who delivered the ceremony’s keynote speech, credited Clyburn’s public endorsement as a pivotal moment in reviving his sluggish campaign.

“I got what we call in my old neighborhood in Claymont, Del., I got shellacked in the first two primaries, and I kept saying, ‘I’m waiting to go to South Carolina,’ ” he said. 

Biden acknowledged the challenges facing graduates today

Biden also reflected on the importance of historically Black colleges and universities in his own political career. 

“The reason I got elected 1972 was because of an HBCU called Delaware State University,” he said. “So, folks, you’re inheriting an incredible tradition, graduating from this university.”

Biden acknowledged the challenges graduates face: the continuation of the coronavirus pandemic, an uncertain economy and “the reckoning on race not seen since the ’50s and ’60s.”

“No graduating class gets to choose the world under which they graduate,” he said. “A few classes, every once in a few generations, enter at a point in American history where it actually has a chance to change the trajectory of the country. That’s not hyperbole. You face that inflection point today.” 

Biden touted his administration’s legislative achievements to date, including a bipartisan infrastructure bill that puts significant investments in expanding broadband access. 

“Everyone should be able to access high-speed internet — urban, suburban and rural,” he said. “No student should have to go to a coffee shop or a fast food restaurant to get the internet so they can do their homework.”

Biden made a plea for passage of voting rights bills 

Biden’s address to graduates comes as disagreements among congressional Democrats have delayed passing what would be his administration’s hallmark piece of legislation: a roughly $2 trillion social and climate spending package. 

Biden also issued a passionate plea for Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would ensure that states have early voting, make Election Day a public holiday and secure the availability of mail-in voting. Democratic lawmakers say these measures are necessary to combat a wave of new restrictions from Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has described the legislation as an attempt by Democrats to have the federal government overhaul elections. 

Both bills have been been blocked by Senate Republicans.

“I was chairman of the Judiciary Committee for a long time. At the end of my stint, before I became vice president, I was able to pass the extension the Voting Rights Act for 25 years and guess what? Convinced Strom Thurmond of South Carolina to vote for it,” Biden recalled. “I thought, ‘We’re finally, finally finally beginning to move.’ But this new sinister combination of voter suppression and election subversion — it’s unAmerican, it’s undemocratic and sadly, it is unprecedented since Reconstruction.”

Biden, who often talked about the “battle for the soul of the nation” during his campaign, also addressed the racism that continues to plague the country. 

“We continue to confront the oldest and darkest forces in this nation: hate and racism,” he said. “You can defeat hate but you can’t eliminate it. It just slides back under a rock and when given oxygen by political leaders, it comes out ugly and mean as it was before. We can’t give it any oxygen. We have to step on it. We have to respond to it.”

5 HBCU Students Help Bring Special HBCU Clothing Capsule Collection To Life

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Several HBCU students studying different aspects of the fashion industry recently partnered with a national clothing retailer to create an HBCU capsule collection! Get the full story from Aiyana Ishmael at Teen Vogue below.

Credit: U.O.

Urban Outfitters has tapped five students from three Historically Black Universities (HBCUs) to create an exclusive assortment of collegiate apparel and lifestyle accessories.

The brand’s latest capsule collection was created as part of UO’s HBCU Summer Class of 2021 — a 10-week internship and mentorship program for five students recognized for their academic excellence and creative prowess. The program was in collaboration with three HBCUs: Howard University, Clark Atlanta University, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The UO Summer Class of 2021 includes CAU students Jalen Bradford, Jasmine Logan, and Dacia Redmond (also a recipient of Virgil Abloh™️ 2021’s “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund), as well as NCAT student U’lia Hargrove and Howard student Janae Claxton.

From concept to creation, the selected students worked with the UO Buying team to design a 24-piece apparel and lifestyle collection celebrating the culture and community of their respective schools. “Being able to share our resources with HBCU talent, and to work alongside these students creatively as they developed their own product, made Summer Class enriching not only for our students but for every UO employee who got to be a part of the program,” Dalila Shannon, UO Women’s Divisional Merchandising Manager and Summer Class Mentor, shared in a press email.

UO’s HBCU merch collection is officially licensed by CLC, the nation’s leading collegiate licensing company, and includes a variety of sweats, tote bags, and long-sleeves, some even featuring original designs from students in the program. It is available for purchase exclusively at urbanoutfitters.com and purchases include a charitable donation to the student’s respective alma maters. 

With the success of the inaugural UO Summer Class internship program, Urban Outfitters plans to continue the initiative in 2022, expanding the program to include even more HBCUs.

Credit: U.O.

‘Top Class’ Series Goes Behind The Scenes of Top-Ranking Sierra Canyon Basketball Team

Posted by Vanessa Roberson
Posted on

Season 2 Available on IMDbTV Now

The world of high school basketball is heating up thanks to a new tv show that highlights what life is like for those in the jersey. Being an athlete, rather than a fan, has its perks because you can keep a clear mind while staying fit. But being a student-athlete is truly top tier because your team becomes a community that will support your life on and off the court. If you have an appreciation for sports, especially basketball, there’s an IMDb TV show that you should definitely watch about the life of basketball players at one of the top high schools in the country for athletic talent. We loved season one, so we already know season two is going to be filled with drama considering the fallout from COVID-19.

EMBED TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3CMN8LXh1A 
Uninterrupted’s Top Class is an original series on IMDbTV,  Amazon’s free streaming service. This second season follows the 2021 men’s basketball team of Sierra Canyon High School, which has weathered a pandemic, and pressures at school and home. Viewers will get an unfettered look into the lives of star players like Amari Bailey, Bronny James, Ramell Lloyd Jr., and Shy Odom – all top talent that hope to enter D1 programs after graduation. Based in San Fernando Valley, the team has snatched an impressive three straight Southern California regional titles. But unfortunately, the realities of the pandemic robbed the elite players of nearly 12 straight months of practice.  Through it all, the show captures the players finding they are stronger together as they seek to win their next championship.

TOP CLASS

Top Class is a drama highlighting how odds are often stacked against young Black men, and how sports like basketball can offer them a second chance. Through it all, their coach pushes them to be on their A-game. Preparing them for life, the boys are encouraged to pay attention to their mental health just as much as their physical fitness.  Coaches encourage the players to be at their best, despite challenges arising from the outside world and the boys’ own hands. Watch new episodes of Top Class streaming now on IMDbTV to discover whether the players of Sierra Canyon can successfully clutch their next championship win. All six episodes are available to stream for free beginning Friday December 17th.

ECSU Selects Marcus Hilliard As New Head Football Coach

Posted by HBCU Editors
Posted on

Elizabeth City State University has selected Marcus Hilliard as the new head coach of its football program! Get the full story from the ECSU release below.

Credit: D2 Football

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) announces Marcus Hilliard has been named ECSU Football Head Coach. A former ECSU Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator and 2004 alum, Hilliard returns to ECSU with a historied knowledge of the program, authentic home-grown Viking pride, and a vision to revive the program, restore the culture, and bring about a new era and brand of Viking football to ECSU. Coach Hilliard will take over the Vikings football program effective January 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Coach Hilliard back at ECSU,” said ECSU Chancellor Karrie G. Dixon.  “He was a respected member of the athletic program and helped lead our football program for 13 years, and we welcome him back home to the Vikings.  Our students are fortunate to have a coach with a winning record and passion for the game.”

In 2018, Hilliard was nationally recognized by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as the Division II Assist Coach of the Year.

“Coach Hilliard is a proven leader, educator, and winner and exemplifies high character and high integrity. As both player and coach, his football teams have risen to a higher level. Coach Hilliard is the right person at the right time.  He is someone who has the ability and desire to bring our community of Vikings and friends together.  We look forward to the new era with our Viking Football program,” said Athletic Director George Bright.

Hilliard has spent the previous three seasons as the assistant head coach at Virginia Union University (VUU), where he is also the co-defensive line coordinator.  Hilliard is responsible for leading the Panthers defensive unit, managing the football budget and scholarships, and serving as the professional football scout liaison.

Prior to his arrival at VUU the Goldsboro, NC, native spent 14 seasons climbing the ranks at ECSU while playing a pivotal role in the development of the program. During his eight years as the defensive coordinator for ECSU, Coach Hilliard produced a combined 16 All-CIAA First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention performers.

“I’m excited to be back home and ready to get to work,” said Hilliard. “This opportunity is not one that I take lightly. The opportunity to impact such a group of talented student-athletes on and off the field is why I wake up and do this job every day. It’s my obligation to every player that puts on that ECSU jersey agreeing to trust the process and join me on this journey. I’m glad to be here and looking forward to restoring ECSU football.”

Hilliard began his coaching career for the Mighty Vikings as the Assistant Football Coach-defensive line starting in August 2004.  He played an intricate part of the heralded “Blue Swarm” defense, which in 2006, shut out four opponents and held six opponents to seven points or less. That season was one for the history books as ECSU set a winning record of 9-3.  The Vikings were also ranked 5th in the nation in scoring defense, 2nd in takeaways, 5th in interceptions and 4th in fumbles recovered.

During the 2007 season, his defense gave up only 234 yards per game which put his team at 4th nationally in total defense.

Hilliard advanced to the Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator position in 2010 where he developed game plans, supported student athlete development, and orchestrated the Vikings entire defensive strategy.  Coach Hilliard also monitored student-athlete grades to ensure academic progress and eligibility, recruited prospective student athletes, and served as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator.

In 2011, his defensive unit finished 14th in the nation in total defense. He has been a part of four CIAA championship games (2006, 2008, 2011, 2012) and four post season appearances.

Additional Professional Accolades

  • Hilliard is always looking to increase his knowledge, and in May 2010, he was among 25 participants in the U.S. chosen to participate in the NCAA Men’s Football Coaches Academy. This program was developed to prepare minority coaches for head coaching positions.
  • That same year, Coach Hilliard was selected to participate in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason training through the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship program. It provides NFL coaching experience to a diverse group of coaches every year.  It exposes talented minority college coaches, high school coaches, and former players to the methods and philosophies of NFL coaching staffs.

When Hilliard played for ECSU, he was a four-year letterman for the Vikings and the leading tackler for the 5th ranked defense in Division II during the 2002 season. He was also a member of the 2001 All-CIAA Defensive First Team, was a two-time Thomas A. Caldwell recipient for excellence in football (2001-2002) and received the Pepsi-Cola Most Outstanding Football Award in 2003.

Hilliard is a North Carolina native who graduated from ECSU in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in History.  He went on to earn his master’s degree in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy in 2007.