North Carolina Central University

North Carolina Central University's athletics programs have enjoyed regional and national recognition for years. Fourteen men's and women's sports teams participate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competition at the Division I level (Football Championship Subdivision).
The 1989 men's basketball team won the NCAA Division II Men's National Championship. Other men's intercollegiate teams include football, indoor and outdoor track, tennis, baseball, golf and cross country. Women's intercollegiate teams include basketball, volleyball, indoor and outdoor track, tennis, softball, bowling and cross country.

NCCU Athletics Department Philosophy Mission Statement
North Carolina Central University places the highest priority on the quality academic and athletic experience as part of the overall education of student-athletes. We affirm academic excellence as the cornerstone to the mission of the institution; as well as the physical, mental and social well-being of those admitted. In so doing, we seek to strengthen the integration of the athletic program objectives with academic development objectives. We seek to promote the personal and social development of our student-athletes, coaches and all others associated with the NCCU athletics programs.
NCCU recognizes the positive impact of athletic participation on the individuals, campus community and community at-large. Consistent with these we seek to encourage attitudes of integrity, fairness, honesty, civility, responsibility, respect for others, dedication to goals, equal access and zeal to present a national model program that culminates into strongly competitive performances in the classroom and on the athletic field.

Operational Goals
1. Maintain and enhance a strong GPA by student-athletes and proportional graduation rate (to the general student body).
2. To promote physical, emotional and social development, specifically leadership qualities, character development, sportsmanship and academic excellence in our student-athletes.
3. To recruit student-athletes who are capable of achieving academic success and to provide academic support and student development opportunities which will assist student-athletes to reach their potential.
4. Have extremely strong team performances that retain local support while culminating in national recognition.
5. To employ coaches and staff members in the Department of Athletics who value high standards of ethical behavior, integrity, and good sportsmanship. These staff members will desire at all times to assist student-athletes in reaching their academic potential.
6. To ensure compliance with Federal, State and University regulations in the hiring process, which includes providing equal treatment and opportunity for student-athletes, coaches and staff in employment and in all department programs.
7. To maintain fiscal and operational integrity by balancing budgets and carrying out sound management practices.
8. Maintain the letter and spirit in compliance of NCAA, conference and institutional policies.
9. To ensure ethnic and gender diversity among its coaches, staff and student-athletes consistent with the University's educational mission.

    Several former student-athletes and coaches are nationally and internationally known.
    Heading the charge of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games was Dr. LeRoy T. Walker, President of the U.S. Olympic Committee, who lifted the Eagle track & field program to international prominence during his unprecedented tenutre as head coach at NCCU. Under Walker's reign, the Eagles produced 30 national titles, 77 all-americans, and eight Olympic medalists.
    Legendary basketball practitioner, John B. McLendon, a member of the National Basketball Hall of Fame, established a remarkable record of 239-68 (.779) as an Eagle head coach from 1940 to 1952. A student of the late Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, McLendon is credited with the development of the zone press, fast break and four corners offense.
    Boston Celtic great Sam Jones, a student-athlete under McLendon and a fellow Hall-of-Famer, became the first black player to be drafted in the first round after scoring a record 1,745 points during his stellar NCCU career.
    Internationally-renowned artist, Ernie Barnes, best-known for his famous paintings seen on the 1970s sitcom "Good Times," played football for NCCU prior to a professional gridiron career with the Baltimore Colts, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.
    The LeRoy T. Walker Physical Education Complex houses a multi-purpose gymnasium, Olympic-sized swimming and diving pool, athletic training facilities, strength and fitness center, and much more. O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium hosts NCCU football action for a capacity crowd of 10,000 dedicated Eagle fans. In November, McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium lights-up with men's and women's basketball excitement (3,056 capacity).
    The university's physical education department, as well as student government agencies, also provide a wide range of indoor and outdoor athletic and recreational opportunities for students not involved at the intercollegiate level.

**Sports Offered by NCCU Athletics**
(14 Varsity Intercollegiate Sports)
Fall	Winter	Spring
Football (Men)	Basketball (Men & Women)	Softball (Women)
Volleyball (Women)	Indoor Track & Field (Men & Women)	Tennis (Men & Women)
Cross Country (Men & Women)	Bowling (Women)	Outdoor Track & Field (Men & Women)
		Golf (Men)
		Baseball (Men)

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Last Revised: July 2007