HBCU players, coaches on 2027 College Football HOF ballot
Five outstanding black college players and four legendary coaches are on the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot released Monday by the National Football Foundation (NFF).
The nine are among 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional (non Div. I) and NAIA ranks on the ballot.
The players include former Mississippi Valley State defenders Ashley Ambrose and Vincent “The Undertaker” Brown, former Virginia Union safety William Dillon, former Winston-Salem State running back Timmy Newsome and former Fort Valley State defensive back Tyrone Poole.
The coaches on the ballot include Gideon Smith who coached at Hampton from 1921-40, Eddie Hurt, who led Virginia Lynchburg from 1925-28 before spending 30 years leading Morgan State (1929-59), Bill Hayes, who led Winston-Salem State from 1976-87 before taking over at North Carolina A&T from 1988-2002, and Rod Broadway who had black college national championship stints at North Carolina Central (2003-06), Grambling State (2007-10) and North Carolina A&T (2011-17).
Of the players, all except Dillon, a three time all-CIAA defensive back and three-time first-team Div. II all-American, played and excelled in the NFL.
Ambrose was an all-SWAC defensive back who led the nation in punt returns his senior year. Brown was a first team all-American in 1987 who led the nation in tackles in 1986 and 1987.
Newsome was a first team all-American in 1978 and a three-time all-CIAA selectee who finished as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,843 yards. He helped led the Rams to league titles and undefeated regular seasons in 1977 and 1978. Poole was a first team all-American in 1994 and a two-time SIAC defensive player of the year while leading the Wildcats to two conference titles.
Among the coaches, Gideon posted a 97-46-12 record at Hampton with four CIAA titles and two undefeated seasons. He has the second most wins in school history.
Hurt (186-62-21) led Morgan to six black college national titles, 11 undefeated seasons, a 54-game winning streak and one season where the Bears did not give up a point.
Hayes (195-104-2) is the winningest coach at both WSSU and NCA&T with six conference titles. His 195 wins are the most of any coach in North Carolina history.
Broadway (127-45-0) is the only coach to win black college national champions at three different schools, winning five overall. He won six conference crowns and two Celebration Bowls.
PLAYERS
Ashley Ambrose, DB, MVSU (1989-91); Vincent Brown, LB, MVSU (1984-87); William Dillon, S, VUU (1979-82); Timmy Newsome, RB, WSSU (1976-79); Tyrone Poole, DB, FVSU (1991-94)
COACHES
Gideon Smith, HU; Eddie Hurt, VUL, MSU; Bill Hayes, WSSU, NC A&T; Rod Broadway, NCCU, GSU, NC A&T
CIAA Football Media Day, Golf outing in Durham in July
DURHAM, N.C. (June 1st, 2026) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) will hold the 2026 CIAA Football Media Day on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET in Durham, North Carolina at the Hilton Durham.
The conference will provide media representatives with exclusive access to conference leadership, head coaches, and student athletes from all 11 CIAA football member institutions.
The event will offer insight into the upcoming season, preseason storylines, and the opportunity to engage directly with key voices from around the conference.
Media Day serves as the official kickoff to the 2026 CIAA football season and continues the conference’s longstanding tradition of celebrating the excellence, history, and future of HBCU athletics.
The week’s activities will also include the CIAA® “Live the Legacy” Golf Tournament, taking place Monday, July 13, 2026, at Hillandale Golf Course in Durham. Held in conjunction with Football Media Day.
The event will bring together conference leadership, coaches, student athletes, alumni, and supporters for a day centered on fellowship, networking, and celebration of the CIAA’s rich history and tradition.
Teams and individuals are invited to participate in the tournament, which supports initiatives designed to enhance the student athlete experience throughout the conference.
Registration is available for $600 per four-person team or $150 per individual participant. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
