NEW ORLEANS — Former HBCU, NBA basketball player Donald “Slick” Watts, one of the brightest HBCU basketball stars in Xavier University of Louisiana’s athletic constellation, died Saturday (March 15, 2025). He was 73 years old. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. Watts’ health declined after a stroke in April 2021. He was a member of the first XULA Athletic Hall of Fame class—he attended that induction on Nov. 3, 2022, on the campus—and was one of the leaders of the renaissance of XULA men’s basketball during the early 1970s.

He played for the New Orleans-based HBCU from 1970-73 and produced 1,460 points and 331 assists—both XULA career records at the time and still among the best numbers at the HBCU. In each of Watts’ final two seasons, XULA won NAIA District 30 tournament championships and won at NAIA nationals. During Watts’ senior season, the Gold Rush upset unbeaten and top-ranked Sam Houston State 67-60 to reach the NAIA quarterfinals. No XULA men’s basketball team since then has advanced that far.

Survivors include a sister, Felicia Watts Wheatley, whose daughter, McKenna Wheatley, is a XULA junior and part of the No. 1 doubles team with Mbali Langa in the Intercollegiate Collegiate Tennis Association NAIA March rankings. Wheatley and Langa won the ITA Cup NAIA doubles championship in October.
       

More on Slick Watts:

        •  Played six seasons in the NBA (1973-79), starting with the Seattle SuperSonics as an undrafted free agent
        •  NBA career statistics: 437 games and per-game averages of 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals
        •  One of 16 selected in 2007 to the Seattle SuperSonics 40th-anniversary team
        •  Received the NBA’s J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award for exemplary community service in 1975-76 . . . he was the second recipient of this award
        •  Also in 1975-76, he was chosen to the NBA All-Defensive team
        •  In 1975-76 with Seattle, he was the first to lead the NBA in steals and assists in the same season
        •  According to basketball-reference.com, he ranks seventh on the NBA/ABA career list with 2.20 steals per game and 57th with 6.13 assists per game through the 2023-24 season
        •  One of his Gold Rush teammates was Bruce Seals, also a 2022 Xavier University of Louisiana Athletic Hall of Fame inductee
        •  ESPN in 2004 ranked him among the 16 “coolest athletes of all time.”
        •  Credited for popularizing the wearing of the headband by basketball players
        •  Other inductions:
        — Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991
        — Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1996
        — Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2011
        •  Born in Rolling Fork, Miss.

The post HBCU hoops legend, NBA style icon dies at age 73 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana Rowing Club, which launched in September 2023 in a partnership with New Orleans Rowing Club (NORC), is thrilled to announce that XULA rowing is being elevated to varsity status for the 2025-26 academic year. This milestone breaks barriers as the first-ever varsity-level rowing program for men and women at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), bringing equality and access to the sport at the collegiate level.

NORC members Elizabeth Manley, Ph.D., professor of history and chair of Xavier’s history department, and Chloé Jobin, the club’s head of community outreach and diversity initiatives, lead the fast-growing sport at the HBCU.

Since its formation, the club has immediately attracted attention nationally from leaders in the rowing community. It has also earned sponsorships and donations from the sport’s national governing body, USRowing, Mr. Cooper’s A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, and other major players in the sport, including Vespoli USA, JL Athletics and Concept2.

In a joint statement, Dr. Manley and Ms. Jobin said: “We could not be prouder to work with Xavier Rowing as we launch this historic debut as an official varsity sport. The passion and dedication of our athletes, combined with the support from esteemed national figures including Olympic rower David Banks, former Division I coach Kevin Harris, rowing luminary Arshay Cooper, and Brannon Johnson of BLJ Rowing, who have all visited to inspire and coach our students, truly exemplifies the spirit of Xavier. Launching this team of athletes onto the competitive national stage is not just about rowing — it’s about building a community, inspiring our students, and creating opportunities for growth both on and off the water.”

“The Xavier Rowing Club has offered me the opportunity to find a family outside of my Xavier family and get involved in a sport that allows me to be part of a team and also work on my own individual goals. . . [and] it allows us to shatter negative stereotypes and false perceptions,” said rower and junior political science major Kamryn Days.

Olympic rower David Banks said: “It’s truly impressive that the push to start the first co-ed HBCU varsity program was initiated internally by the Xavier students, staff, and faculty. It’s another testament to the outstanding students at Xavier; in that they seek out new challenges and opportunities and strive for excellence in whatever they do. It’s not easy being the first few to do something that may seem so very different and even daunting. But I’m confident and hopeful that these students will realize that this sport is theirs to make their own and that they will be an inspiration to many people to take their own new steps. I can’t wait.”

Arshay Cooper said: “For so many young people in our rowing community, Xavier has the potential to enhance their lives both academically and athletically and to provide an opportunity that has not existed before now. Excitement for the program has been building around the country as young men and women are realizing that they may soon be able to fulfill their dreams of attending an HBCU and rowing in college.”

Brannon Johnson, founder of the sport’s first black-owned and operated club, said: “Rowing can be a vehicle to a better life. It certainly was for me. But rowing can also be a vehicle for change. Xavier, like so many other HBCUs, is steeped in the rich tradition of creating change for its students. Xavier’s rowing team is a wonderful example of what that looks like now, and it’s vital that we lean in and support this program and the students at its center.”

Said Pat Kendrick, Xavier University of Louisiana’s executive director of athletics and recreation: “This is an exciting time for Xavier Athletics in welcoming the rowing team to our family. We are so proud of each and every one of these athletes and look forward to seeing them excel in their sport and bring the spirit of Xavier to the water and beyond.”

The post HBCU makes history with first-ever varsity rowing program appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The rankings are the first since Dec. 11, and the next rankings will be announced Jan. 29.  Defending national champion Dordt, 17-0 and winner of its last 26 games, is No. 1 for the fifth time in as many polls this season.

The Gold Nuggets are one of seven still-unbeaten NAIA women’s basketball teams — six of them are in the top 25.

The ranking is the HBCU squad’s highest since Jan. 19, 2016, when it was ranked 20th. This season XULA is 17-0 overall and 14-0 in the Red River Athletic Conference. Eleven of those wins have come by double-digits, with multiple wins of 20 points or better.

In addition to playing NAIA opponents, XUL has matched up against two Division I programs from inside its state — LSU and Grambling State. Both games were losses — but both were considered exhibitions. LSU beat Xavier 115-54 while Grambling State came away with a 69-55 win over its fellow HBCU  in New Orleans. LSU beat Grambling State 100-54 when the two teams matched up later.

The post HBCU basketball squad outside top 25 despite unbeaten record appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

XULA never trailed, taking control early and building a 38-28 lead by halftime. Four starters scored in double figures, led by Kam Shelley with 16 points, including four 3-pointers. Joy Campbell added 15 points, while Zaria Harleaux and Lauren Banks each chipped in 14. Harleaux also recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. Campbell added three assists and three steals, while Banks tallied three steals for the third consecutive game.

Jala Williams set a career high with six assists, and Sierra Headquist contributed nine points and eight rebounds. The Gold Nuggets’ defense stifled TAMUSA, holding the Jaguars to just 28 first-half points and maintaining a double-digit lead throughout the second half.

The Jaguars (12-5, 9-4), a first-year varsity program, were led by Evelyn Lorenzo with 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Natalia Trevino posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

XULA’s historic start has made them the only basketball team in school history—male or female—to begin a season with 15 consecutive wins. The Gold Nuggets will look to extend their streak Saturday when they face Our Lady of the Lake, another RRAC opponent, at 1 p.m. CST.

This win further cements XULA’s standing as a premier program among HBCUs and in the NAIA.

The post HBCU squad remains perfect with a big win on the road appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans-HBCU Xavier University of Louisiana produced a pair of second-half runs Saturday to clinch a 66-59 women’s basketball victory against Paul Quinn and remain unbeaten. The Gold Nuggets — 12-0 overall, 9-0 Red River Athletic Conference and ranked 25th in the NAIA — will break for Christmas, then return to the court on Jan. 2 at Texas College.

The next home game will be Jan. 7, also against Texas College. Paul Quinn (6-7, 5-4) led 32-29 in the 23rd minute after Kayla Webster’s two free throws. XULA then scored 12 consecutive points to take the lead for good. The Gold Nuggets led 45-41 through three quarters, then opened the final period with a 13-2 clinching run.

“It was a slow start, but we got better,” said Zaria Harleaux, who had 10 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, six steals and a block for XULA. “We figured out the adjustments we had to make and started executing better.” Joy Campbell and Kam Shelley scored 16 points apiece for XULA. Campbell had six rebounds, five assists, and seven steals, and the point guard made a season-best eight free throws. Shelley, the team’s leading scorer this season, has reached double-figure points in every game.

Cierra Taylor scored 15 points and Zaire Brown 13 for Paul Quinn. Adrianna Bolton grabbed 15 rebounds, 12 in the first half. The Lady Tigers’ Canai McPherson entered with a team-leading 16.8 points per game, but the senior guard did not start and was scoreless in three minutes. XULA shot a season-worst 30.8 percent from the floor but made 23 free throws, had 20 steals, and gained 32 turnovers, all season highs.

The Gold Nuggets extended their HBCU women’s basketball program record for most consecutive victories to start a season during the Title IX era. Overall it’s Xavier University of Louisiana’s longest win streak since 14 during the 2021-22 season.

The post HBCU WBB program extends school record win streak to 12-0 appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Tamar Braxton, Saucy Santana, Angela “Blac Chyna” White, Karlous Miller of 85 South, Claudia Jordan, and Nick “Swaggy P” Young have been announced as the cast for College Hill Celebrity Edition Season III. 

“I am thrilled that Xavier University of Louisiana will host BET+’s COLLEGE HILL: CELEBRITY EDITION,” XULA President Reynold Verret said in a statement. “As we prepare to celebrate Xavier’s first century of service, this collaboration not only showcases our rich history as the nation’s only Black and Catholic institution but also amplifies our commitment to academic excellence and dedication to service and social justice. We welcome this extraordinary opportunity for our students to share their stories and aspirations on a national stage, to highlight the unique spirit that is Xavier. As we celebrate Xavier’s centennial, the collaboration with BET shares our story, reinforces Xavier’s place in U.S. education and celebrates a century of service, education, and accomplishment, promoting a more humane and just society for all.”

College Hill initially began in the mid-2000s as a reality show based around students at HBCUs. The new format has had celebrities attending Texas Southern and Alabama State previously.

“Edmonds Entertainment, in conjunction with This Way Out Media, is thrilled to be returning to season threre of our COLLEGE HILL: CELEBRITY EDITION franchise on BET+ with a very fun, bold, and dynamic cast who will be navigating their collegiate journey at Xavier University of Louisiana while exploring the rich culture, history, and flavor of New Orleans,” said Tracey Edmonds, CEO and President of Edmonds Entertainment. “We are honored to be partnered with Xavier, one of the most effective teaching institutions in the country, and we know this will be a one-of-a-kind learning journey for our cast.”

The post College Hill Celebrity Edition cast, location revealed appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

MARION, Ind. – Seth Alexander became Xavier University of Louisiana’s (XULA) first NAIA national champion in track and field when he won the triple jump Friday.

Alexander – a junior pharmacy major from Arnaudville, La., and a former Breaux Bridge High School standout – set a Xavier University record of 15.39 meters/50 feet 6 inches. Alexander was the only jumper to reach 50 feet.
Alexander held the previous XULA record of 15.31 meters/50 feet, 2 3/4 inches. He did that in an April 28 victory in the Red River Athletic Conference Championships at San Antonio, Texas.
Seth Alexander produced his winning mark on his second of three jumps during the preliminary round. His first jump was 15.15 meters/49 feet, 8 1/2 inches. Alexander passed on his third attempt, fouled on his fourth attempt – that was his first of the nine-athlete final – then passed twice more.
The victory was Alexander’s third in a row in this event during the outdoor season. He won twice indoors and finished third at NAIA indoor nationals.
Teammate Blake Harris joined Alexander as an NAIA All-American in this event. Harris, a junior, placed third with 15.14 meters/49 feet, 8 inches. Harris, the RRAC runner-up, produced his fourth top-3 finish of this outdoor season.
Cumberland freshman Goodness Iredia, seeded first entering nationals with 15.93 meters/52 feet, 3 1/4 inches, did not compete. Iredia won the long jump Thursday, and Cumberlands publicist Kyle Allen said Iredia had been bothered all season with a hamstring injury. No. 2 seed Myles Lincoln of Union (Ky.) (15.37 meters/50 feet, 5 1/4 inches) placed fifth with 15.12 meters/49 feet, 7 1/4 inches.

Also earning All-America was senior Colin Rowe, eighth in the 400-meter dash in 47.87 seconds – XULA’s second fastest time since the program was revived in 2010. Rowe, in his first XULA season after transferring from the University of Maryland, ran 47.85 at the RRAC meet. Keishon Franklin of Southeastern (Fla.) won Friday in 46.57.
The Gold Rush tied for 14th with Keiser in team scoring with 20 points. It was the XULA’s highest men’s finish in this meet. Life was the champion with 55 points, and British Columbia was second with 41.
“I’m extremely proud of our men and women and my coaching staff,” said fifth-year XULA head coach Yhann Plummer, whose women tied for 37th in team scoring. “We worked hard all year. We endured lots of ups and downs with injuries – but everyone stepped up when it mattered most. It’s good to see the smiles on their faces. And we also have a national championship! Today was a great day.”

The post Xavier University triple jumper wins NAIA National Championship appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Turner’s time ranked eighth out of nine qualifiers and broke Shalysa Wray’s XULA record of 24.11. Wray set the record on May 23, 2019, in the NAIA national prelims at Gulf Shores, Ala. Cumberland’s Praise Idamadudu (23.21) was the fastest qualifier. The 200 final will start at 4:10 p.m. EDT Friday at Indiana Wesleyan University’s Wildcat Track & Field Complex.

 XULA’s 400 relay team of Emerald Carter, Ariel Ford, Darryan Horton and Turner placed 11th in qualifying in 46.68. The ninth and final qualifier was Madonna in 46.42. William Carey was No. 1 in 44.94.

Turner was the Gold Nuggets’ representative when the NAIA honored Champions of Character athletes during opening ceremonies. Each team at the meet with significant numbers of qualifiers can nominate one recipient who best exemplifies the Champions of Character traits of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.

The Gold Nuggets‘ Thursday events:
        •  2 p.m. – Carter, Jade Harris and Kyla Coleman in 100 hurdles preliminaries
        •  2:30 p.m. – Skylah Barton in 800 preliminaries
        •  2:30 p.m. – Turner in 100 preliminaries
        •  5:30 p.m. – Zoe Cordova in triple jump
        •  8:15 p.m. – Fedjine Bell, Ford, Carter and Turner in 1,600 relay preliminaries

The post XULA track star makes history, advances to NAIA championship appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

The NAIA announced pairings Thursday evening. The Gold Rush (22-8) will play Hope International (20-10) at 5 p.m. MST Tuesday in the opening round at the College of Idaho’s J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The facility was built in 1991, and its basketball gym seats 2,422.

The XULA-Hope International winner will play the College of Idaho-Westcliff winner at 7 p.m. Wednesday for a chance to advance to Kansas City, Mo., for the last four rounds March 16-21.

XULA is seeded eighth and Hope International ninth in the Naismith Quadrant. College of Idaho (30-1) is a No. 1 seed and was unanimously atop the most recent coaches poll.

Previous lengthy trips for the Gold Rush this season were to South Bend, Ind., Uncasville, Conn., and Hobbs, N.M.

XULA qualified for nationals with an automatic bid, the result of beating 17th-ranked LSU-Shreveport 79-63 Sunday in the championship game of the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament at Alexandria, La.

 Xavier Reaves – a 6-foot-6 forward and a graduate transfer in his only season at XULA – leads the Gold Rush with per-game averages of 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals. Reaves was MVP of the RRAC Tournament.

XULA qualified for NAIA nationals for the fourth straight season, the fifth time in six seasons – all under current head coach Alfred Williams – and the 15th time in 19 seasons.

Hope International finished third out of 10 teams in the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season, beat 25th-ranked The Master’s in the GSAC Tournament semifinals but lost 71-69 to Ottawa (Ariz.) in the championship game. Jalani Horn, a 6-7 junior forward, leads the Royals with 17.8 points per game and shoots 54.8 percent from the floor. Horn is one of four double-figure scorers on his team.

Hope International defeated XULA 61-52 in the opening round of NAIA Division I nationals in 2014.

This will be the second time a XULA team travels to College of Idaho for NAIA nationals. Women’s volleyball lost 25-18, 25-11, 25-14 to the 15th-ranked Yotes in the 2015 opening round.

The post NAIA Tourney sends XULA to Idaho appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS — It was announced Tuesday, July 5, that former Alcorn State Football head coach Marino Casem will be inducted posthumously into the 2022 Xavier (La.) University (XULA) Athletic Hall of Fame as one of 20 honorees released to the public by the university. The official induction ceremony is set to take place during a banquet on November 3, on the campus of Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

A 1956 graduate of Xavier (La.) University and dubbed “The Godfather” by Roscoe Nance of the Clarion-Ledger, Casem served as a student-athlete for the Gold Rush in the sport of football. 

The Memphis, Tennessee native served as head coach for the Braves football team at Alcorn State from 1964 through 1985, while also serving as the university’s athletic director from 1966 until 1986. During his Alcorn tenure, “The Godfather” compiled a record of 132-65-8 — still serving as the most wins all-time in school history in football. Along the way, he helped the Braves capture seven Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles and four Historically Black College/University (HBCU) National Championships. In 1984, Casem helped lead the Braves to a 9-1 overall record (7-0 SWAC), earning a trip to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs — formerly known as the Division I-AA playoffs. 

In addition to his future induction into the 2022 XULA Athletic Hall of Fame, Casem was previously honored to the SWAC Hall of Fame (1992), Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1994), Alcorn State University Athletic Hall of Fame (1996) and College Football Hall of Fame (2003). 

Alongside former Alcorn State and National Football League (NFL) fullback John Robert “Jack” Spinks, Casem is forever enshrined upon Braves Football history with the program’s football stadium sharing both his name as well as that of Spinks (the first Braves football player ever to be taken in the NFL Draft in 1952). 

As an administrator and athletic director, Casem was instrumental in helping construct the Davey L. Whitney Health and Physical Education Complex which opened in 1975, and plays home to Alcorn’s volleyball, women’s basketball and men’s basketball programs. 

After leaving Alcorn in 1986, he would go on to become the athletic director at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he helped the Jaguars capture six SWAC Commissioner’s Cups — awarded annually to the league’s most accomplished program in both men’s and women’s sports during an athletic year. 

Later in his career, Marino Casem would also serve for a number of years on the NCAA’s Football Rules Committee and Executive Committee, while also collecting the National Football Foundation Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award and the Football Writers Association Citation of Honor. 

Sadly enough to the entire collegiate sports world, Casem passed away on April 25, 2020, leaving behind a legacy that many in and around the college football landscape — especially in the HBCU world, quickly mention when talking about the greats of the sport. 

For the complete list of the Class of 2022 inductees into the XULA Athletic Hall of Fame, please visit the Gold Rush athletic website at XULAGold.com or click here. 

The post Marino Casem to be inducted into Xavier (La.) Athletic Hall of Fame appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Deionte Norris, Michael Sonn and Kabrel Johnson homered Friday to help Xavier University of Louisiana defeat Texas College 39-0 in the opener of a three-game Red River Athletic Conference baseball series at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
        The game was stopped after 6 1/2 innings because of the 10-run rule.
        The teams will play a noon doubleheader Saturday at Barrow.
        Norris had three extra-base hits and seven RBIs for XULA Baseball, including a grand slam. Johnson hit a three-run homer, and Sonn hit a two-run homer.

        XULA pitchers Blair Frederick, LaMar Price and Anthony Dumas combined on a two-hitter with 18 strikeouts. Frederick, the starter and winner, faced 10 batters, struck out nine and walked one. He struck out the first eight Steers. Price struck out five, and Dumas struck out four.
        XULA baseball scored 15 runs in the third inning. Thirteen of XULA’s 25 hits went for extra bases. Armand Daigre hit three doubles and had three RBIs, Johnson had five RBIs, and Skyler Roberts had four RBIs. Courtesy runner Mike Harris scored four times and produced four of the Gold Rush’s 17 stolen bases.
        In six offensive innings, the Gold Rush produced 64 plate appearances: 41 at bats, 14 walks, four hit batters, one sacrifice and four sacrifice flies.
        XULA is 12-16 overall and 8-11 in the RRAC; Texas College is 0-19 and 0-19. The Steers have been outscored 458-11 this season and shut out 11 times. Seven times this season the Steers allowed 30-or-more runs, including a high of 43 at home Feb. 25 against Texas A&M-Texarkana.
        For XULA’s pitchers and defense, it was their first shutout this season after recording four in 38 games in 2021.

The post XULA Baseball Bats Boom in 39-0 victory appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Vice President of Student Affairs Curtis Wright announced Tuesday the appointment of Nathan Cochran as the new executive director of Athletics and Recreation at Xavier University of Louisiana(XULA). Cochran will join the staff effective Aug. 18, 2021.

Cochran comes to Xavier from Kentucky State University, where he has served as assistant head football coach and coordinator of recruiting and compliance the past 2 1/2 years. KSU’s 2019 team was NCAA Division II’s most improved and produced the second largest improvement by a Division II HBCU since the NCAA started compiling that statistic in 1996.

“I’m excited to welcome Nathan Cochran to the senior leadership team in Xavier’s Division of Student Affairs,” said Wright. “Nathan brings a wealth of experiences both as a coach and athletic administrator that will immediately advance our departmental goals and aspirations. Our talented coaches and dynamic student-athletes, coupled with Nathan’s amazing communication skills, blend perfectly to position Xavier as one of the powerhouse programs in the NAIA. We are proud to have him on our team.”

Cochran replaces Jason Horn, who led XULA Athletics the past seven years. Cochran takes over a program that continues to excel and receive national acclaim while competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

During the past 10 years Xavier teams won 65 conference or NAIA unaffiliated group championships and qualified 70 times for NAIA National Championship tournaments in basketball, competitive cheer, cross country, tennis, track and field and volleyball. During that same stretch, nearly all of the senior student-athletes received degrees from XULA or are still enrolled.

Campus facilities – XULA Tennis Center, the Convocation Center and the Convocation Center Annex – are among the best in the NAIA. The Convocation Center, which seats nearly 4,000, plays host to XULA intercollegiate basketball, volleyball and cheer competitions. 

XULA produced its best-ever performance – 19th place and 503.5 points – in the NAIA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings of 2020-21. 

Cochran’s professional career spans nearly 20 years as a collegiate administrator and a football and track and field coach. Almost 70 percent of his employment has been at HBCUs. His previous collegiate jobs were at Philander Smith, Paine, Alma, North Park, Avila, Lincoln (Mo.), Blackburn, Wisconsin-Platteville and Allen.

For slightly more than two years (2017-19), Cochran was director of athletics at Philander Smith, which competed at that time in the same conference – the Gulf Coast Athletic – as XULA. Cochran’s Philander tenure included an improved website and athletic facilities, an increase in sport offerings from seven to nine, and the launch of a fundraising campaign and a hall of fame for athletics.

“I am truly honored to be selected as the executive director of Athletics and Recreation at Xavier University of Louisiana,” Cochran said. “I am excited to work with Xavier’s great coaches, athletic staff and tremendous student-athletes. I also look forward to developing relationships with the proud Xavier alumni and the New Orleans community.”

Cochran received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from South Carolina State in 2000 – he was a two-year football letterman with the Bulldogs and, in 1998, earned the team’s academic achievement award – and a master’s in management from Webster in 2003. He is working on a doctorate in adult and higher education from Morehead State. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, USA Track & Field Georgia and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

As a youth in his hometown of Boulder, Colo., Cochran achieved Eagle Scout.

XULA is a longtime NAIA member and on July 1 began its first year as a member of the Red River Athletic Conference.v

The post XULA hires Nathan Cochran to take over athletics appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

“We are extremely grateful for Jason’s many contributions over the years,” XULA Vice President for Student Affairs Curtis Wright said. “Jason helped create systems and established networks that have Xavier positioned to be a national powerhouse in NAIA athletics. I wish Jason the best of luck as he continues to make positive contributions in intercollegiate athletics.”

During Horn’s tenure he was recognized as one of four NAIA winners in 2020-21 of an Under Armour AD of the Year Award, presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). Horn was NAIA National Athletics Director of the Year for 2019-20, and he served on numerous committees, boards and associations in the NAIA and the region.

Horn resigned Tuesday, effective immediately. XULA will conduct a national search to hire a successor. Wright will oversee XULA Athletics during the interim.

The post XULA Director of Athletics resigns appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

In the small-school division – NCAA Division II and NAIA members – Fitch was chosen Pitcher of the Year and named to the first team. Holloway was selected Coach of the Year.

XULA’s other first-team selections are relief pitcher Jamal Allen, utility player Jose Fulgencio and catcher Tristan Rodriguez. Pitcher Nigel Mayfield and Co Co Simoneaux were named to the second team.

XULA’s 15th-year publicist, Ed Cassiere, was named Sports Information Director of the Year.

Playing baseball for the first time since 1960, XULA finished 27-11, placed second in the Black College World Series and third in the Association of Independent Institutions Championship tournament. XULA ranked 54th out of 186 NAIA teams in the Bo Chip Power Index.

Fitch, a freshman left-hander from Baton Rouge, La., a graduate of the Dunham School and a transfer from Baton Rouge Community College, was 8-0 with a 2.96 ERA.

Holloway leads the second era of XULA baseball after six seasons (2014-19) at Selma (Ala.) University, where his Bulldogs made six consecutive national tournament appearances and three times qualified for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association World Series. Holloway’s first XULA team averaged 7.5 runs per game and ranked third with 3.37 stolen bases per game and a .219 opponent batting average. Eleven times XULA reached double-digit runs, and XULA won 11 in a row from March 7-April 3.

That XULA win streak started with a 4-2 victory at city rival Loyola, which is No. 8 in the NAIA coaches poll entering nationals.

Allen, a sophomore right-hander from Birmingham, Ala., a graduate of Ramsay High School and a transfer from Wallace Selma (Ala.) Community College, was 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA. Fulgencio, a freshman from Orlando, Fla., and a graduate of TNXL Academy, hit .313 with two home runs, 23 RBIs and 16-of-18 stolen bases.

Rodriguez, a sophomore from Kissimmee, Fla., a graduate of New Beginnings High School and a former College of Central Florida standout, hit .301 with eight homers, a team high, and 20 RBIs. Mayfield, a right-handed sophomore from Wailuku, Hawaii, a graduate of Baldwin High School and a transfer from Nunez Community College, was 6-2 with a 4.98 ERA.

Simoneaux, a junior from Port Allen, La., a graduate of Brusly High School, and a transfer from Southern, hit .266 with three homers and 27 RBIs and ranks 13th in the NAIA with 0.74 stolen bases per game. Simoneaux stole 24 bases in 28 attempts.

Cassiere has chronicled the XULA reboot, beginning with the Sept. 24, 2019, announcement that baseball would return. He helped XULA land major coverage in the New York Times newspaper – a Feb. 23 takeout by James Wagner. The award from blackcollegenines.com is Cassiere’s 95th in a sportswriting and sports information career that dates to 1974.

The post XULA baseball wins major honors after first year appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The fourth-seeded Xavier University of Louisiana needed an extra frame to topple the #3 Edward Waters Lady Tigers on its home court to earn its conference-best 16th GCAC Tournament Championship, 56-52.

EWC might have lost the contest but it was not the fault of La’Quanza Glover. The All-GCAC First Teamer and All-Defensive Team member was unstoppable as she posted 26 points and 18 rebounds in defeat.

XULA got a pair of double-doubles from Abryhia Irons (10 points, 10 rebounds) and Victory Udechi (12 rebounds, 11 points) while Nina German contributed a game-best seven assists.

[inArticle]

Edward Waters will have to hope its resume is good enough to impress both the computers and the selection committee enough to garner an at-large berth.

The women’s basketball selection show will take place on Thursday, March 4 at 6 p.m. CT

The post Xavier women win GCAC Championship appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Xavier University of Louisiana was among “others receiving votes” – 29th place among the 44 teams earning points – in the NAIA men’s basketball coaches poll announced Wednesday.

XULA fell six spots from the previous poll Dec. 16, when it was 23rd. Fifth-year head coach Alfred Williams said his team’s new ranking was disappointing.

[inArticle]

“We were 1-and-0 since the December rankings,” Williams said. “I thought at the very least we’d stay somewhere between 20th and 25th. But we’re not worrying about this very long. If our team keeps working hard, good things will happen.”

“XULA this week remained unbeaten since those December rankings, winning three neutral-site games in three days in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference group play at Talladega, Ala. XULA this season is 6-1 overall – winner of 29 of its last 33 games dating to Nov. 16, 2019 – and 3-0 in the GCAC.”

Indiana Wesleyan received 10-of-20 first-place votes to remain No. 1 for the second consecutive poll. The other 10 first-place votes went to No. 2 LSU-Shreveport, which will become a regular opponent next season when XULA joins the Red River Athletic Conference.

The only GCAC team in the top 25 is Talladega, which slipped from 17th to 18th. Dillard received votes for the eighth consecutive time and is in 36th place, up five spots since December.

The post XULA dropped out of top 25 without loss appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

[inArticle]

XULA’s top four scorers were newcomers. Victory Udechi scored 15, LaMonica Plater had 14, Rayna Ross scored 13 and Jelisa Smith had 12. XULA’s other double-figure scorer was two-year letterwinner Da’Jha Virgil with 10.

XULA led 29-11 after one quarter, 47-19 at halftime and 66-26 through three quarters. XULA outshot SBC 34.4 to 21.8 percent from the floor and outrebounded the Lady Chargers 68-43. XULA committed 12 turnovers and gained 32, 24 by steals.

In addition to her game-high point total, Udechi – a transfer from SUNO, which dropped intercollegiate athletics after the 2019-20 academic year – led everyone with nine rebounds. Plater grabbed eight rebounds, and reserve Lailaa Bashir – a two-time ITA NAIA national tennis doubles champion in her XULA basketball debut – grabbed seven.

Temeshia Gray scored 12 points for Southeaster Baptist, and Cardrina Nolen had nine.

“They work extra hard every day in practice,” Browder said of his team. “It’s a very coachable group of young ladies. I think we’re going to be a balanced team from a scoring standpoint, with multiple players who can score and contribute.”

 XULA’s next game will start at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday against Carver.

The post XULA women cruise in 2020-21 hoops opener appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

[inArticle]

XULA returns seven of its top 10 scorers from last season’s team, which was 27-6, won GCAC regular-season and tournament championships, ranked 10th in NAIA Division I and set a XULA season record with 254 made 3-pointers. Leading the returnees are:

   Rayshawn Mart, a 6-foot-3 senior guard who last season became the first XULA man to reach 500 points, 150 rebounds, 25 made 3s, 70 assists, 50 steals and shoot 50 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the line in the same season.
        •   Makye Richard, a 6-3 senior guard who became the first XULA player in 33 seasons to average at least 11 points, six rebounds and three assists per game.
        •   Ed Carter, a 6-1 senior guard who in 2019-20 made a school-season-record 49.5 percent of his 3-pointers (52-of-105).
        •   TJ Jones, a 5-8 sophomore guard who was GCAC co-Freshman of the Year and whose 130 assists ranked second among NAIA Division I freshmen.

Talladega was picked to finish second. The Tornadoes received two first-place votes. Dillard was picked third and received one first-place vote. Edward Waters, Tougaloo, Philander Smith and Rust finished 4-5-6-7.
     XULA will open its 83rd season at home Oct. 21 – one week from Wednesday – in a 7:30 p.m. matchup at the Convocation Center with first-time opponent Southeastern Baptist of Laurel, Miss.

GCAC Men’s Basketball 2020-21 Coaches Poll
1. XULA (4)
2. Talladega (2)
3. Dillard (1)
4. Edward Waters
5. Tougaloo
6. Philander Smith
7. Rust

[postBannerAd]

The post XULA predicted to win GCAC basketball in final season appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Robert Ryland, a Xavier University of Louisiana alum and the first to integrate the mainstream U.S. pro tennis tour, died Sunday (Aug. 2, 2020) in New York at age 100.

Ryland became a centenarian June 16. He was born in Chicago and spent his first year of college at XULA during 1940-41. He departed XULA to join the Army during World War II.

After the war, Ryland competed at Wayne State – where he reached the singles quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament in 1945 and the third round in 1946 – and Tennessee State, where he received a bachelor’s degree.

Ryland was nearly 40 when he accepted an invitation to compete on the previously whites-only World Pro Tour in 1959. He also competed in the American Tennis Association and was the ATA singles champion in 1955 and 1956. Ryland defeated Howard Minnis of Baton Rouge, La., 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in the 1955 ATA final.

[inArticle]

Ryland earned an invitation to the 1955 U.S. Open and was eliminated in straight sets in the opening round of singles.

He gained great fame as a tennis teacher. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Leslie Allen, Arthur Ashe and Harold Solomon were some of Ryland’s proteges. Ryland also taught entertainers Eartha Kitt, Bill Cosby, Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand.

“He was instrumental in my career, touched so many lives and is the reason behind the growth of so many players of color in tennis today,” said Allen – who ranked as high as 17th in WTA singles – to Jerry Bembry of theundefeated.com. “To many people he was Coach Ryland, but for me, he was Cousin Bob. He was family, and what I always knew about him was that he loved tennis until the very end.”

Ryland and three other XULA standouts – Jimmie McDaniel, Dick Cohen and Louis Graves – were part of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum’s exhibit at the 2007 U.S. Open to honor black tennis pioneers. The Wall Street Journal (writer Tyler Blint-Welsh, photographer Gabriela Bhaskar) published an August 2019 feature titled, “Sports Pioneer, at 99, Is the Oldest Tennis Player in New York City / The first male African-American pro, Robert Ryland remains active teaching as he approaches his 100th birthday.”
 

In its Nov. 14, 1953, edition, the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper said, “Ryland is to the tennis world what Jackie Robinson has been to baseball, Joe Lillard was to pro football and Ted Rhodes to golf.”

Herb Douglas – a 1948 Olympic long-jump medalist and a XULA freshman the same year as Ryland – said, “I liked Bob. We got along as brothers. He was a great player and could beat everybody. He was good-natured.”

[inArticle]

Ryland is a member of the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, the USTA Eastern Hall of Fame, the USTA Midwest Hall of Fame and Wayne State’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ryland graduated from Chicago’s Tilden Tech High School, now known as Edward Tilden Career Community Academy High School.

Ryland is survived by his wife, Nancy, who told the USTA that her husband would be happy with any contributions to junior tennis on his behalf.

The post Robert Ryland, the first black to integrate U.S. pro tennis dies appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – XULA tennis teams will compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference in the spring of 2021 as affiliate members.

The SSAC announced Friday the addition of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets. XULA has not competed for league honors in tennis since 2010 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

[postBannerAd]

affiliate membership

NAIA legislation approved in 2014 permits teams in conferences without automatic bids – five or fewer eligible teams – to pursue affiliate membership with automatic-bid conferences. The GCAC, XULA’s home since 1981, has not qualified for automatic bids to tennis nationals since 2010.
“Our teams are excited to be a part of a conference again,” said Alan Green, XULA’s director of tennis and in his 18th season as coach of the Rush and Nuggets.

“The Southern States has always been arguably the strongest NAIA league in the nation, and we are looking forward to the challenge there. I believe we will all help each other continue to be national powers in the NAIA.”
The final NAIA coaches polls of 2020 had four women’s and three men’s teams from the Southern States in the top 25. But the Rush (No. 2) and Nuggets (No. 3) ranked higher than anyone in the SSAC.

XULA tennis success

XULA’s men were NAIA national runner-up in 2016, 2017 and 2019 and a semifinalist in 2018. The women reached the national semifinals five times in seven years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019. The Gold Rush have made 107 consecutive appearances in the top 25 – the longest active streak in NAIA men’s tennis.

[adrotate banner=”42″]

“We truly are enjoying the success we have had with our tennis programs on the court, in the classroom and in the community,” said Jason Horn, XULA’s assistant vice president for student affairs/director of athletics and recreation. “One of the discussion points that coach Green and I had at the end of last season was looking at the opportunity to play in a conference tournament. There are a few schools with a good proximity to New Orleans that we play regularly, and it made sense for us to have the discussion with the Southern States Athletic Conference and commissioner Mike Hall. We look forward to the great competition that our tennis teams will have in the Southern States.”

Southern States

The top-25 teams in the Southern States in 2020 were William Carey (No. 4 men, No. 4 women), Middle Georgia (No. 6 men, No. 10 women), Mobile (No. 12 men, No. 25 women) and city rival Loyola (No. 15 women).
“We feel we are the best tennis conference in the NAIA,” Hall said, “and adding two more elite programs with Xavier’s men and women only solidifies that. With this affiliate membership, we believe that we can offer their student-athletes an outstanding championship experience.”

XULA teams in men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track and field will continue to compete for championships in the GCAC. XULA teams in competitive cheer, baseball and softball will compete for bids to national tournaments via NAIA unaffiliated groupings.

[inArticle]

Impressive GCAC tenure

XULA concluded its GCAC tennis tenure impressively. The men won five straight GCAC Tournament championships in six years and their final 45 GCAC regular-season dual matches. The women won the GCAC Tournament seven times in their final eight attempts and 64 of their last 65 GCAC regular-season dual matches. Since 2010 the Rush and Nuggets are 5-0 apiece against GCAC opponents.

In NAIA unaffiliated group tournaments, the Rush and Nuggets won three championships apiece. But XULA has not competed in in unaffiliated tournaments since 2014 and relied since then on its lofty poll rankings to earn at-large invitations to NAIA nationals.

[postBannerAd]

The post XULA tennis teams to join Southern States as affiliate members appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – No surprise here. Xavier University of Louisiana’s Angela Charles-Alfred and Lailaa Bashir, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s small-college national women’s doubles champion during the fall, held on to No. 1 Thursday in the end-of-season Oracle ITA NAIA Rankings of 2019-20.

It’s the first-ever final ITA No. 1 ranking for XULA tennis, women or men. The Gold Nuggets produced four No. 2s during the previous six seasons.

The XULA women have three singles players and two doubles teams in the final national rankings for the third consecutive season. Charles-Alfred is 10th, Bashir 12th and Farah Baklouti 29th in singles, and the doubles team of Baklouti and Yi Chen Pao is 16th.

[inArticle]

Charles-Alfred is the first Gold Nuggets doubles player to be ranked three times in the final top 10. Charles-Alfred’s six total appearances in the final ITA rankings tie her with Anastesia Opata for No. 2 in XULA women’s history. The career leader with seven appearances is Charlene Goreau, Charles-Alfred’s doubles partner the previous two seasons.

In the end-of-season South Region rankings, Charles-Alfred, Bashir and Baklouti rank 7-10-20, respectively, in singles. Charles-Alfred and Bashir are No. 1 in the region in doubles, and Baklouti and Pao are No. 6.

This is the eighth consecutive season that the XULA women have at least one singles player and one doubles team in the final national rankings. The Gold Nuggets are on the end-of-year national singles list for the ninth consecutive time and the 15th time in 16 seasons.

[postBannerAd]

The post HBCU doubles standouts finish atop national tennis rankings appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Xavier University of Louisiana’s William Loyd was named Thursday to the 2019-20 NAIA Division I All-America men’s basketball second team, and teammate Rayshawn Mart earned an honorable mention for the second consecutive year.

Although Loyd and Mart represent the 26th and 27th All-America honors in the program’s history, Loyd is just the second Gold Rush athlete to be named to the second team of higher. The other was Bruce Seals, who as a sophomore in 1972-73 made the first team.

[postBannerAd]

“Wow, that’s pretty cool,” said Loyd, a 6-foot-5 senior forward from Baton Rouge, La., and a graduate of Madison Prep. “First of all, as usual, give God all the glory for this honor. I’m amazed. I’m thankful for being able to play the past two seasons at Xavier. I’m grateful for the fans, the staff, the faculty and the students.

“I’m also grateful to my parents and my family for supporting me and my decisions.”

Loyd transferred to XULA after two seasons at NCAA Division II Spring Hill and quickly became one of the team’s best and most reliable players. This past season he averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and shot 57.7 percent from the floor and 71.7 percent from the line. Loyd was first-team All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and MVP of the GCAC Tournament, which the Gold Rush won for the first time since 1996.

Loyd finished 2019-20 with 545 points and 252 rebounds, making him the sixth Gold Rush player to reach 500 points and 250 rebounds and the first since Merlin Peters in 1989-90. The others on that list are Alex Williams in 1986-87, Rodolfo Gill in 1983-84, Seals in 1972-73 and Norman Zanders in 1969-70.

 Mart, a 6-3 junior guard from Houma, La., and a graduate of H.L. Bourgeois High School, also finished the season with 545 points and 16.5 points per game. He averaged 5.1 rebounds. Mart became the first in Gold Rush history to reach 500 points, 150 rebounds, 25 made 3-pointers, 70 assists, 50 steals and shoot 50 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the line in the same season.

 In four seasons under head coach Alfred Williams, XULA has received six All-America citations. The other three were honorable mentions for Jalen David and Virgil Davison in 2017-18 and Loyd in 2018-19.

The Gold Rush finished 27-6 and also won the GCAC regular-season championship. XULA ranked 10th in the final coaches poll and qualified for the NAIA’s national tournament for the second time in three years and the 12th time in the past 16 seasons.

The post Two All-America honors for Xavier University of Louisiana appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – There weren’t many NAIA athletic competitions Friday in the wake of recent nationwide COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cancellations, suspensions and postponements, but undaunted and determined Xavier University of Louisiana women’s tennis hit the court and left it with a 6-1 victory against Lewis-Clark State.

It was the eighth consecutive victory for the Gold Nuggets (10-1), ranked third in the NAIA.

[postBannerAd]

“I hope it’s not the last time we play this season,” said Alan Green, XULA’s 17th-year head coach and director of tennis. “Just gotta wait and see.”
    

There will be no tennis this weekend. Southern Miss canceled a Saturday home match against the Gold Nuggets, and Nicholls postponed its Sunday home match against the XULA men.

Another NCAA Division I school, Colgate, had a tentative agreement to visit the Gold Nuggets Monday – but Colgate’s season ended Thursday when the Patriot League Council of Presidents canceled all spring athletics practices and competitions through the remainder of the academic year.
    

 Angela Charles-Alfred, Lailaa Bashir, Yi Chen Pao and Angelica De Vincenzis won in doubles and singles for XULA. Lacee Ancar clinched with her 6-2, 7-5 victory against Kyla Collier at No. 6 singles.
    

Charles-Alfred and Bashir, the No. 1 women’s doubles team among small colleges, rolled to a 6-1 victory against Collier and Begona Andres. XULA beat a pair of regionally ranked singles players; Charles-Alfred defeated West No. 16 Andres 6-2, 6-2, and Yi Chen Pao, in the final completed match, beat No. 13 Laura Rosselli 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.
    

Sophie Uhlenkott was a double winner – No. 3 doubles and No. 5 singles – for Lewis-Clark State (3-8), which was among “others receiving votes” (34th place) in this week’s NAIA coaches poll.

The post XULA played tennis on Friday, future remains uncertain at best appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men’s basketball ended its lengthy Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championship drought Sunday with a come-from-behind 78-75 victory against Tougaloo at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Rush (27-6) won the tournament for the first time since 1996. XULA earned the GCAC’s automatic bid to the NAIA Division I National Championship tournament, which will begin March 18 in Kansas City, Mo. The NAIA will announce Wednesday the 32-team bracket and pairings.

[postBannerAd]

XULA took the lead for good in the final minute for the second consecutive day, this time on freshman guard TJ Jones’s shot-clock-beating layup with 14 seconds remaining to make it 77-75. Sunday also was Jones’s birthday.
Sean Atwater missed a 2-pointer for the Bulldogs (24-8) after Jones’s score, and another XULA freshman, Cameron Wells, rebounded and was fouled with six seconds remaining. Wells made the second of two free throws for the final point of the game.

Tougaloo never attempted a shot on its final possession. Stanley Williams dribbled the ball off of his leg near midcourt, and Donovan Armstrong recovered the ball for XULA as time expired.

Rayshawn Mart scored 20 points and William Loyd 15 for XULA, and Cameron Dumas and Jones scored 10 apiece. Loyd, a senior forward, was named tournament MVP, and Mart and Makye Richard joined him on the six-player all-tournament team.

Datavian Porter, Justin Johnson and Atwater scored 15 points apiece for Tougaloo. Ledarius Woods scored 12 points, and Sebron Carter had 10.
Tougaloo led 39-33 at halftime and 60-56 after a Woods 3-pointer with 8:13 remaining.

Both teams shot well, with XULA finishing at 61.2 percent from the floor and Tougaloo at 53.5 percent. The Gold Rush shot 68 percent in the second half. But both teams missed 10 free throws apiece in the final 20 minutes.
XULA was a five-time GCAC Tournament runner-up — in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2018 — between 1996 and Sunday.

“It’s great to finally break through and see Xavier win this thing again,” fourth-year XULA head coach Alfred Williams said. “Our guys played with a lot of resolve and desire to end the streak. We’ve had a great year, but we’re looking to keep this run going at nationals.”

XULA has won five straight, eight of its last nine games, 17 of its last 19 and 23 of its last 26.

Although XULA was seeded first and Tougaloo second in the tournament, Tougaloo held the higher national ranking in the most recent coaches poll. The Bulldogs were 12th, and the Gold Rush were 15th. A new top 25 will be announced Wednesday.

Also named all-tournament were Tougaloo’s Woods, Talladega’s Daryl Baker and Dillard’s Tyrell Alcorn.

The trip to NAIA nationals will be XULA’s 12th in its last 16 seasons and 19th overall.

The post Xavier University of Louisiana wins Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Xavier University of Louisiana announced Tuesday the hiring of Leslie Ballard as head coach of its recently launched softball program. She will begin her duties Monday (March 9, 2020).

“After a thorough national search, we are delighted to have someone with Leslie Ballard’s experience join the Xavier community,” XULA President Dr. Reynold Verret said. “We are excited to match our talented future student-athletes with coach Ballard’s background and dedication to create a great debut for Xavier softball. It will be fun to watch coach Ballard develop her program as it pursues success on the regional and national levels.”

Said Ballard: “I thank Xavier University of Louisiana for choosing me for this great opportunity. – I am beyond honored! To be able to start a program has really been a dream of mine, and now it’s becoming a reality. I’m blessed to have been chosen to do something that I’m very passionate about. The people that I’ve encountered here at Xavier have been nothing but kind and genuine to me throughout this process. They accepted me with open arms. The support of Xavier and the community is very comforting.

[postBannerAd]

 “I want to compete from the start even though we’re getting a late start with recruiting. I have the utmost confidence that this program will be competitive. My goals are to ensure that these ladies get a fine education and are able to compete within our league and nationally. I love the challenge of preparing our student-athletes for real life through the game of softball. I love what I do!”
    

Ballard is in her third season as head coach at Lane College, an NCAA Division II and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member in Jackson, Tenn. Ballard’s best season was in 2019 when the Dragons:
     •  Were 2-0 against SIAC regular-season champion Spring Hill – the Badgers’ only blemishes on a 17-2 conference record in 2019.
     •  Led the SIAC and ranked 11th in NCAA Division II with a .338 team batting average.
     •  Ranked seventh in NCAA Division II in stolen bases per game.
    

“Xavier University is excited to welcome coach Ballard to Team Gold as the leader of our new softball program,” said Jason Horn, XULA’s assistant vice president for student affairs/director of athletics and recreation. “Leslie brings to Xavier great passion and energy for softball and the all-around development of student-athletes. We look forward to supporting Leslie as she builds this program into a national contender.”
    

Ballard is a native of Nashville, Tenn., and a graduate of Lane, where she pitched and was second-team All-SIAC her senior year. That same season she was named to the SIAC All-Academic team.
    

XULA announced Sept. 24 that softball would compete in the 2020-21 academic year. The Gold Nuggets will compete for regional and national honors in the NAIA, which has 201 softball teams in 2019-20.

The post XULA ready to debut softball with its new coach appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Rayshawn Mart wasn’t among Xavier University of Louisiana’s senior-night honorees Monday, but he could’ve been.

Mart, a heralded junior, looked like the most experienced player on the floor. He produced 6-of-6 free throws and two steals in the final 5 1/2 minutes to help the NAIA No. 15 Gold Rush emerge with a 69-65 victory against 12th-ranked Tougaloo that gave XULA the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship.

XULA (24-6, 12-2) scored the final seven points after Stanley Williams’s basket with 2:19 remaining gave Tougaloo (22-7, 11-3) a 65-62 lead.
Mart’s game totals: 19 points, seven rebounds, 2-of-3 3-pointers, 7-of-7 free throws, one block and three steals.
 

[postBannerAd]

“Rayshawn Mart has gotten better and better since he’s been here,” XULA head coach Alfred Williams said of the 2017-18 GCAC Freshman of the Year and honorable-mention NAIA All-American of last season. “Don’t know where we would’ve been without him tonight.”

The XULA men know where they’ll be Wednesday: back at the Convocation Center as the GCAC Tournament’s No. 1 seed in a 6 p.m. first round/quarterfinal matchup with eighth-seeded Rust (3-27). XULA will be the site of all semifinals and championship games for men and women Saturday and Sunday.

“The atmosphere was great tonight,” said XULA senior forward William Loyd, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half. “The fans came out. They were loud. It was great to win a title for them and for Xavier. This is what we’ve been working for since the summer. All those early-morning and late-night practices. They paid off.”
Reminded that the Gold Rush have not won the GCAC Tournament since 1996, Loyd said, “Time to turn it around. This is our year.”

The game included seven ties and 18 lead changes. There were 13 second-half lead changes, the last at 1:36 when Mart made both ends of a 1-and-1 to give the Gold Rush a 66-65 advantage.

Tougaloo’s final four possessions went this way:
     •  Makye Richard blocked a Williams shot, and Jerry Gibson rebounded for XULA at 1:20.
     •  Mart stole the ball from Justin Johnson with 45 seconds remaining.
     •  Gibson rebounded LaGarious White’s 3-pointer – it would have tied the score – with four seconds remaining.
     •  A missed desperation 3 from midcourt after Gibson made 1-of-2 free throws for the final point and a two-possession lead.
    

“We dug in and battled all night and made key plays when we needed them,” said Williams, whose team lost 64-63 at Tougaloo Feb. 8. “This is a game our guys will remember the rest of their lives.”
    

After Mart’s final free throws, XULA scored with 16 seconds remaining when 5-foot-8 freshman TJ Jones penetrated the lane for an off-balance layup that beat the shot clock and gave XULA a 68-65 advantage.
    

“TJ comes from a state-championship program at Lafayette Christian,” Williams said. “He’s not afraid of moments like these.”
     

Virgil Davison scored all 10 of his points in the first eight minutes to help XULA build an 18-8 lead. But Tougaloo, led by Ledarius Woods, rallied to take a 36-35 halftime lead. Sean Atwater made two 3s in the final 36 seconds of that half for Tougaloo, the second one at the buzzer.
    

Tougaloo took its largest lead, 46-41, with 16:55 remaining when Woods made his fifth 3-pointer. But Woods, who had game highs of 22 points and eight rebounds, never scored thereafter. The rest of his evening consisted of two turnovers, one rebound, three fouls and no shots attempted. He wasn’t in foul trouble; he committed his third with 4:22 remaining.
    

Richard had nine points, seven rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal for XULA, and Gibson had six rebounds and two of XULA’s season-high-tying five blocks. Mart, Davison and Ed Carter made two 3-pointers apiece.
    

Atwater had 15 points and six assists for the Bulldogs, who won the GCAC regular-season and tournament titles last year, and Stanley Williams scored 12.
    

XULA has won 12 GCAC regular-season titles in men’s basketball, the most in league history in this sport. It’s the Gold Rush’s first non-shared championship since 2013-14. XULA shared the 2017-18 regular-season title with Dillard.
    

The other GCAC Tournament Wednesday matchups: No. 7 SUNO at No. 2 Tougaloo, No. 5 Dillard at No. 4 Edward Waters and No. 6 Philander Smith at No. 3 Talladega.
    

XULA won 88-77 Jan. 13 at Rust, then 80-59 at home Feb. 1. The XULA-Rust winner will play the Dillard-Edward Waters winner Saturday.
    

The GCAC team championship is XULA’s fifth of the 2019-20 academic year. XULA previously won women’s cross country, men’s cross country and the women’s volleyball regular-season and tournament titles.

The post XULA beats Tougaloo takes Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season title appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Freshman point guard TJ Jones scored a career-high 23 points, 16 in the first half, to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a 91-78 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference men’s basketball victory Saturday against Talladega.

The Gold Rush (22-5, 10-1), ranked 14th in the NAIA, remained a half-game behind first-place Tougaloo but clinched home-court advantage for the opening (quarterfinal) round of the GCAC Tournament March 4. XULA will be seeded no lower than second and play the No. 7 or 8 seed.

[postBannerAd]

XULA will stay on the road and play GCAC opponent Edward Waters at 7:30 p.m. EST Monday in Jacksonville, Fla.

Jones entered averaging 4.2 points per game. He was 8-of-12 from the floor, 5-of-6 on 3-pointers – 4-of-5 in the first half – and 2-of-2 from the line to produce the most points in a road game by a XULA freshman since Drionne Major’s 25 in an 88-83 victory at William Carey on Dec. 16, 2003.

“TJ shot with confidence and was happy to take advantage of what the defense gave him,” XULA head coach Alfred Williams said.

Four other Gold Rush players scored in double figures. Rayshawn Mart had 18 points, six rebounds and four steals. William Loyd scored 13 points, Makye Richard 12 and Virgil Davison 11.

Davison scored all his points in the first half and put the Gold Rush ahead to stay at 13:44 with his first of three 3s. XULA led 48-33 at halftime, and Mart’s basket with 12:30 remaining gave XULA its largest lead, 66-44.

Talladega (21-7, 7-5), ranked 25th, lost its second straight at home. Ray Doby and R.J. Kelly scored 19 points apiece for the Tornadoes, and Morris Dunnigan scored 18. Doby grabbed 12 rebounds.

XULA committed a season-low nine turnovers, outshot Talladega 53.6 to 42.4 percent from the floor and scored its most points at Talladega since 1978.

XULA has won three straight, 12 of its last 13 games and 18 of its last 20. On the road, XULA has won eight of its last 10 games.

The post XULA races past Talladega on the road appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – For the second time in as many days, Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball dropped a four-set match against a top-10 team in the NAIA National Championship Presented by Marriott South Sioux City Riverfront.

The Gold Nuggets lost 25-21, 25-13, 18-25, 25-18 Wednesday to ninth-ranked Columbia (Mo.) – and it also was the second straight day that XULA (31-8) won the third set.

[inArticle]

“There were some similarities to the Jamestown match in that we finally figured out what we needed to do,” XULA head coach Pat Kendrick said, “but I thought we played a little better against Columbia. Not that we were terrible against Jamestown. I just thought we served tough and competed all the way to the end this time.”

XULA hit .198, nearly 60 points higher than it did Tuesday, but Columbia hit .301, the best by a XULA opponent this season.

In the fourth set XULA hit .414 – but Columbia hit .727 in its first 22 swings and finished at .559.
 

“We probably energized Columbia after we won that third set,” Kendrick said.
 

In the third XULA got three kills from Kayla Black and two from Adili Rikondja, and the Gold Nuggets served all four of their aces in that set: two by Eva Le Guillou and one apiece by Black and Jennifer Torres. The Cougars (28-6) also hit .093 with 10 errors in the third.

[inArticle]

 “We bounced back well in the third set,” Kendrick said. Black had 15 kills, Vivica Price-Spraggins nine and Taylor McGee eight for XULA. Tiffany Phillips had 14 assists and 15 digs in her second double-double of the season. Eva Le Guillou had 16 assists and missed a double-double by one dig. Maya Smith had four blocks, and Price-Spraggins and Rikondja had three apiece.

Price-Spraggins hit .409 – the fifth time in the last six matches that she topped .400. Kiersten Anderson led Columbia, hitting .359 with 18 kills and 23 digs. Jaqueline Silva hit .364 with 17 kills and 13 digs. Sidney Branson had 15 kills, and Bailey Ulery hit .353 with nine kills. Running the Cougars’ offense was freshman Luisa Ferreira, who had 56 assists, three kills, two aces and 11 digs.

XULA will conclude its Pool H schedule with a 2 p.m. Thursday match against unranked Westmont, which beat Columbia in three sets Tuesday, then lost in four to Jamestown. XULA will need a victory against Westmont and help from others to have a chance to advance to Friday’s round of 16.
  

“Westmont is a good team like everyone else up here,” Kendrick said. “We’ll need to play consistently and show the fire we’ve had the first two days. It would be a nice to finish pool play with a win.”

The post Xavier Volleyball hanging on at NAIA Nationals appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

NEW ORLEANS – Xavier University of Louisiana climbed to 16th Wednesday in the NAIA Division I men’s basketball coaches poll – the highest Gold Rush ranking in nearly four years.

The Gold Rush climbed from an “others receiving votes” position of 28th in the October preseason poll. It’s XULA’s highest ranking since 14th on Jan. 12, 2016.

[inArticle]

The poll is derived on results through Sunday (Nov. 24). Not considered in the rankings was XULA’s 91-89 overtime home victory Tuesday against city rival Loyola, which climbed from 17th to third.

Loyola is one of three teams in the preseason top 25 that XULA defeated. The others were William Carey and Wiley, both of which dropped out of Wednesday’s rankings.

The top 25 includes:
     •  Four teams from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference: No. 13 Talladega, XULA, No. 24 Dillard and No. 25 Tougaloo.
     •  Five Louisiana teams: Loyola, No. 7 LSU-Shreveport, No. 11 LSU-Alexandria, XULA and Dillard.
     •  Five HBCU teams: Talladega, XULA, No. 19 Stillman, Dillard and Tougaloo.
XULA will visit the University of New Orleans at 6 p.m. Saturday, then break for semester exams. The next home game will start at 5 p.m. Dec. 17 against Mobile at the Convocation Center. Between those games will be a 4 p.m. rematch Dec. 14 against Loyola at The Den.

The next top 25 will be announced Dec. 11.

2019-20 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses – records through Nov. 24)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Georgetown (Ky.) (9) 8-0 219 1
2 The Master’s 6-0 208 2
3-tie Mid-America Christian 9-0 198 18
3-tie Loyola (N.O.) 10-0 198 17
5 Pikeville 10-0 195 5
6 William Penn 8-1 186 4
7 LSU-Shreveport 6-1 178 11
8 Providence (Mont.) 5-0 171 12
9 Wayland Baptist 6-1 164 3
10 Arizona Christian 5-1 153 10
11 LSU-Alexandria 5-2 146 6
12 John Brown 8-0 145 NR
13 Talladega 8-1 123 8
14 Lewis-Clark State 8-0 118 23
15 Hope International 8-0 111 RV
16 XULA 9-3 110 RV
17 Montana State-Northern 4-0 109 19
18 Life 8-0 105 NR
19 Stillman 7-2 101 14
20 Park (Mo.) 5-1 88 24
21 Dalton State 7-1 85 NR
22 Westmont 7-0 64 NR
23 Thomas More 8-0 58 NR
24 Dillard 7-4 52 RV
25 Tougaloo 7-1 46 NR

The post XULA men’s basketball soaring in NAIA poll appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Xavier University of Louisiana freshmen Shalysa Wray and Ariel Ford secured more berths in the finals during the second day of the NAIA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

[inArticle]

Wray qualified for her third final of the meet when she placed fifth in the 100-meter dash preliminaries in 11.77 seconds Friday. The top eight advanced to final at 3:50 p.m. Saturday.

Wray was the only freshman to reach the 100 final. Her time is the fastest by an NAIA freshman in the national preliminaries since Mount Mercy’s Bri’Anna Branch ran 11.70 in 2016.

Ford qualified in her second event with a season-best time of 56.09 seconds in the 400. Ford ranked seventh among the nine who advanced to the final at 5:30 p.m.

Wray and Ford will compete for XULA’s 400 relay team in a 2:40 p.m. final. Wray will run in the 200 final at 5:10 p.m.

Edward Angel tied for 23rd in the men’s high jump at 1.97 meters/6 feet, 5 1/2 inches. Angel, an All-American a year ago in this event, was eliminated after missing all three of his attempts at 2.02 meters/6-7 1/2.

Also competing Saturday will be Brandon Matthews in the men’s triple jump at 1:30 p.m.

Here are all XULA results from the second day of NAIA nationals:

Women
100 preliminaries:  Shalysa Wray, 5th in 11.77; Alexis Milton, 27th in 13.30
400 preliminaries:  Ariel Ford, 7th in 56.09

Men
High Jump:  Edward Angel, tied for 23rd in 1.97 meters (6 feet, 5 1/2 inches)

The post XULA pushing forward to NAIA Track Finals appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

ANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s fitting that the 2019 theme for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference was #MakeThemNotice.

When it comes to women’s hoops, it looks like the powers-that-be on the national level noticed.

[inArticle]

This year, three of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference’s 8 women’s basketball programs will compete at the 39^th Annual NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, presented by Visit Billings. The tournament will be held March 13-19 in Billings, Mont.

The field of three is one of the largest representations at the national level for the GCAC in more than a decade.

“This is a great moment for the GCAC,” Commissioner Steve B. Martin said. “It really speaks to the hard work of our coaches, our member institutions, and our student-athletes, as well as the overall growth and strength of the conference. I’d like to especially thank our conference rater, [Edward Waters’] Charmaine Wilson, for her hard work, impartiality, patience and professionalism in representing the conference’s best interests on the national level.”

Xavier University of Louisiana (23-7) and Talladega (Ala.) College (27-5) learned on Wednesday during the NAIA’s official bracket reveal that they both received at-large bids for the national tournament.

Xavier, which went 13-1 in the regular season and achieved a No. 23 ranking in the latest NAIA Coaches Top-25 Poll, will take on Mid-America Nazarene (24-5) in the opening round of the tournament. The two teams will meet on Wednesday, March 13 at 5:45 p.m. MDT.

[inArticle]

The Gold Nuggets were upset in the first round of the GCAC tournament by the Southern University at New Orleans Lady Knights, 58-56.

The No. 13 Talladega Lady Tornadoes were 12-2 on the year in conference play before ultimately losing to the tournament champion Lady Bleu Devils. The Lady Tornadoes will take on the Menlo (Calif.) Lady Oaks (20-9) on Thursday, March 14 at 12:30 p.m. MDT.

The Dillard Lady Bleu Devils were automatic qualifiers as the GCAC’s tournament winners. The Lady Bleu Devils defeated the Edward Waters (Fla.) Tigers in the tournament final, 64-62.

[inArticle]

The post Dillard, XULA and Talladega women’s teams headed to NAIA Tourney from GCAC appeared first on HBCU Gameday.

Xavier University of Louisiana has both its men’s and women’s squads in the top four of the NAIA standings for the first time ever this week.
[inArticle]
The men dropped to third in the nation on Tuesday following a 6-3 loss to Keiser, who took the no. 2 spot. XULA had held that spot for the previous two weeks and has been nationally ranked in the top 25 for 92 consecutive times dating back to April of 2007.

“If we can continue to play like we did against Troy, we’re going to feel pretty good about our chances at nationals,” XULA coach Alan Green said.

The XULA women, the Gold Nuggets, moved up to fourth after back-to-back victories over NCAA opponents in Southern and Jackson State. They have made 54 consecutive top 25 appearances in the NAIA.

XULA women will have their work cut out for them in the near future, taking on NAIA’s sixth-ranked squad in William Carey on Thursday and then taking on the second-ranked team in NCAA D2 tennis in West Florida on Sunday.

[inArticle]

[matchedContent]

[inArticle]

The post XULA tennis could be best-kept HBCU sports secret appeared first on HBCU Gameday.