The commissioners of the four National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) conferences comprised of historically Black colleges and universities have recently partnered to create the HBC4Us, an alliance dedicated to protecting the integrity, cultural value, and competitiveness of HBCU athletic programs.
The coalition will be led by commissioners Sonja O. Stills of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Charles McClelland of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Jaqie McWilliams Parker of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), and Anthony Holloman of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
Together, these commissioners will collaborate on various initiatives aimed at ensuring the growth, visibility, and sustainability of HBCU athletics. The alliance will focus on advancing student-athlete leadership and development opportunities, preserving the history and contributions of HBCUs to American sports and society, strengthening HBCU athletic programs to thrive on regional and national stages, securing financial stability and long-term funding strategies, presenting a collective front on NCAA governance, and promoting the holistic welfare of student-athletes.
“The formation of the HBC4Us alliance marks a new era of collaboration,” the commissioners said in a joint statement. “As stewards of our storied athletic programs, we are committed to honoring our legacy while creating opportunities that ensure the competitiveness and sustainability of HBCU athletics for generations to come.”
