CIAA extends Commissioner through 2031, plans changes to football format
CHARLOTTE, NC — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) Board of Directors concluded its 2026 Spring Board Meeting at Lincoln University (PA) with several strategic actions designed to strengthen the conference’s future, including the extension of Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker’s contract through 2031.
The Board unanimously approved the contract extension following its annual review of the commissioner’s performance. The extension comes as the conference advances strategic priorities focused on championship excellence, student-athlete success, institutional growth, and national visibility.
“I am grateful to the Board of Directors for their continued confidence and support of our vision for the CIAA,” said Commissioner McWilliams-Parker.
Among the most significant actions was the approval of an expanded CIAA Football Championship format. Beginning this fall, the championship will transition to a new playoff structure, with details to be announced at CIAA Media Day on July 15, 2026, to be held in Durham, NC. The move is intended to enhance postseason opportunities for student-athletes while increasing excitement and engagement around CIAA football.
As previously approved during the Fall 2025 Board Meeting, women’s flag football will officially become a varsity sport across the conference beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.
Belton from Hampton football to WWE Superstar, to marriage
Former Hampton University wide receiver Trick Williams (born Matrick Belton) is currently a massive breakout star in the WWE. Following his college football career, he transitioned to professional wrestling and one-time NXT North American Champion, and was the winner of the 2023 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.
He won the TNA World Championship, his first world championship, in May 2025 and became the first WWE-contracted wrestler to win a TNA championship. In 2026, he started being managed by Lil Yachty.
The new star regularly incorporates his HBCU background and football athleticism into his wrestling persona, becoming a fan-favorite entertainer. He was featured on a special ESPN segment last week highlighting his Hampton connection.
On June 20, Belton married former college basketball star and now fellow WWE Superstar Anriel Howard who performs under the nickname Lash Legend in a lavish ceremony in Jamaica. The wedding was featured in an exclusive in the June 23 edition of PEOPLE Magazine.
The bride, 29, and groom, 32, first connected through work. “We were truly friends for a couple years,” Howard remembers. “Then once we both were single we decided to get to know each other romantically.”
The couple got engaged during Thanksgiving dinner at their new home on Nov. 27, 2025, and now look forward to “continuing to travel the world together, and eventually starting a family together.”
TRICK WILLIAMS
Former Hampton wide receiver Matrick Belton (l.) is now in 2026 WWE Superstar Trick Williams (r.).
Trick Williams has achieved major milestones, including winning the United States Championship at WrestleMania.
Williams played two seasons (2012 and 2013) as a wide receiver for the Pirates. He transferred and walked on as a receiver for South Carolina. He sat out in 2014 and played for the Gamecocks in 2015 to 2016.
He participated in the Philadelphia Eagles rookie camp before turning his sights to sports entertainment.
After being cut from the mini-camp, Belton sent a tape to WWE in an attempt to enter the XFL, a quickly defunct football league also run by Vince McMahon. While he was unsuccessful, WWE reached out to him via email to encourage him to try out wrestling. He participated in a WWE tryout in December 2018.
He began his professional wrestling career in 2018 under the ring name Sweet Daddy Trick when he trained in Philadelphia with his uncle. He then signed a developmental contract with WWE in February 2021 and debuted in September of the same year under the Trick Williams ring name.
Williams signed with the WWE and quickly became a prominent figure on NXT and SmackDown. Since then, he has become the WWE United States Champion, a two-time NXT Champion, a one-time NXT North American Champion, and was the winner of the 2023 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.
