The University of Minnesota Gophers’ next men’s basketball coach will likely not be Black, as the self-appointed search committee has only suggested white candidates, despite the fact that there are 16 current Black head coaches and 20 Black assistant coaches on the Advancement of Blacks in Sports watchlist.
Charles Hallman
Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Posted inCoaching while Black
Are there good Black coaching candidates out there?
Despite a 31% increase in Black head coaches in the NCAA over the past decade, there are still only 15 Black head coaches out of over 1,000 DI coaches, and 15 Black head coaches were fired or stepped down, with only 5 finding new employment.
Posted inAnother View
Do complex NCAA selection criteria disadvantage HBCUs?
The NCAA’s NET ratings have made it difficult for HBCUs to advance past the first round of the NCAA tournament, but coaches such as Kevin Blakeney and Tim Eatman are pushing for more teams to be selected.
Posted inCoaching while Black
First-year coaches on a learning curve
Stephanie Cooper and Rachel Naughton, two experienced coaches, have taken on the challenge of turning around the University of the Virgin Islands and Wilberforce University women’s basketball programs, respectively, despite the obstacles they face.
Posted inSports
Hope Credit Union ‘bullish on young Black people’
Hope Credit Union, the nation’s largest Black and woman-owned financial institution, has partnered with the HBCU Athletic Conference to sponsor their basketball tournament and promote financial literacy among Black students.
Posted inAnother View
Second Stillman-hosted all-Black tournament gets rave reviews
The 2025 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Basketball Championships were a successful event, bringing recognition to Stillman College and providing a high-quality experience for all involved, including the Visit Tuscaloosa team and the UVI men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Posted inCoaching while Black
Black coaches shine in HBCU Athletic Conference, a true showcase of excellence
Fisk University’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach Victoria Crawford and Stillman College Assistant Coaches KaTia May and Montego Hoskins were honored with awards at the HBCUAC Post-Season Tournament for their leadership and excellence.
Posted inSports
Norfolk State looks like shoo-ins to the MEAC finals
The MEAC’s eight women’s and eight men’s teams will compete in the conference tournament starting March 12, with the winners of the tournament receiving automatic NCAA bids, and players to watch include Kierra Wheeler, Joshua Strong, Blake Harper, and Peyton Starks.
Posted inAnother View
What’s drawn Black Minnesota athletes to Alabama?
Three native Black Minnesotans participated in the 2025 HBCUAC Hope Credit Union Basketball Championships at Stillman College, sharing their stories of how they ended up at their respective HBCUs.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Gopher wrestler establishes top game, bottom game
Quincy Hulverson, a redshirt sophomore wrestler from Tea, S.D., has adjusted well to college wrestling, and Anthonett Nabwe, a redshirt sophomore thrower, has set a new weight mark at the Snowshoe Open at the U of M Fieldhouse.
Posted inSports
Administrator athlete enjoys best of both worlds at St. Thomas
Amy Olson-Cooper, a former multi-sport athlete and lupus survivor, has made history in athletic administration, receiving the 2025 Wilma Rudolph Courage Award for her efforts in ensuring opportunities for girls and women in sports, and is now the only Black female in senior athletic administration at St. Thomas University.
Posted inAnother View
Sistas shine at LA women’s gymnastics meet
The first day of Black History Month 2025 was marked by a Big Ten women’s gymnastics meet in Los Angeles, where both UCLA and Michigan State had their share of Black gymnasts, with UCLA’s Madisyn Anyimi and Jordan Chiles both posting perfect 10 scores in their floor exercises.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Everything is go, go, go in this Gopher’s final season
Minnesota graduate student Alexsia Rose, who wears the number 0, has proven to be a valuable asset to the team, averaging 15 minutes per game and logging a season-high 10 points against Nebraska in December.
Posted inSports
HBCUAC Tournament: Highlights from Days 2 and 3
The HBCUAC tournament saw Wiley’s 95-72 win over UVI, while Philander Smith edged Fisk 43-40, with both teams advancing to the semifinals on Saturday.
Posted inSports
Netflix’s ‘Last Chance U’ doc draws players’ lawsuit
Six former junior college football players are suing Netflix and their former school for at least $30 million, alleging that they were not compensated or given the chance to consult an attorney or fully read their contracts before being portrayed on-screen.
Posted inAnother View
Omaha a leader in Black college coaching
Carrie Banks is in her fifth season as the head coach of the Nebraska Omaha women’s basketball program, making her one of the few all-Black coaching staffs in college basketball, while Leonard Hamilton retires after 22 seasons as the winningest coach in Florida State history.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Publication in ‘Essence’ is ‘surreal’ for student of Black sports historyÂ
Bria Felician, a graduate student at Georgia State, has a passion for Black women’s history in sports, which she showcased in her “100 Years of Black women in sports + a catch up” newsletter and an article in “Essence Magazine.”
Posted inBlack College Sports Weekly
Norfolk State’s Larry Vickers leads HBCU coaches in MEAC undefeated streak
Norfolk State’s Larry Vickers is one of three Black head coaches and the only HBCU head coach among 12 Division I undefeated WBB teams in conference play.
Posted inSports
March Madness Black college style
The 2025 HBCUAC women’s and men’s basketball postseason tournament will be held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with Tuscaloosa being the home of the University of Alabama and the regional center of industry, commerce, health care and education for the area locally known as West Alabama.
Posted inReporter's Notebook
St. Thomas roll into Summit League first place
St. Thomas secured a 95-84 win over Omaha, moving the Tommies into first place in the Summit League and knocking Omaha out of first place, while also putting the team in history as the only team to transition to Division I and record 19 wins three straight seasons.