After a nearly 80-year absence from the gridiron, Wilberforce has officially announced its plan for the return of its football program in 2027.
Wilberforce last played football in 1947 after a 25-year run, transitioning into the beginning of the Central State football program.
Its most successful season came in 1931, when it finished with a perfect 8-0 record, claiming it’s only Black College Football National Championship.
The team has made it known that they are actively out recruiting student-athletes that they say will “become the foundation of the revived football program.”
This effort will be led by head coach Earnest Wilson, who has been a steady coaching presence in the college ranks for the past 35 years, most recently serving as a Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach at Edward Waters in 2025.
Other previous stops include serving as a Head Coach at Savannah State from 2013-2015 and at Elizabeth City State from 2016-2017, compiling an overall record of 11-43. He’s also had stints as an Offensive Coordinator at Benedict (2003-2004), Jackson State (2010-2011), and Hampton (2012).
Wilberforce has also made a plea for support from corporate sponsors for expenses such as a new stadium and facilities for the team to call home, uniforms and equipment, scholarships, and sports medicine.
Those who are interested in supporting the university with major gifts or information about becoming a corporate sponsor are asked to contact the school’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Dr. Grant L. Winrow.
