Saturday marked another moment of recognition and pride across Black College athletics with the 2026 HBCU Sports Awards presentation.
Hosted by HBCU Sports Founding Publisher and Editor Kenn Rashad alongside Jarrett Hoffman and Chris Stevens, the annual virtual event spotlighted the very best in HBCU sports.
It honored administrators, athletes, and coaches in 46 categories from institutions across Division I, Division II, and NAIA sports.
2026 HBCU Sports Awards Winners
Women’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year:
Spirit Morgan, North Carolina A&T.
Men’s Track & Field Athlete of the Year:
Jayden Burris, Voorhees.
Women’s Track & Field Runner of the Year:
Alexis Jones, Howard.
Men’s Track & Field Runner of the Year:
Aaron Alukunyang, North Carolina Central.
Women’s Track & Field Sprinter of the Year:
Tashina Alase, Southern.
Men’s Track & Field Sprinter of the Year:
Leonie Bentley, Virginia State.
Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year:
TaKenya Stafford, Coppin State.
Women’s Tennis Player of the Year:
Paula Corbalan, Jackson State.
Men’s Tennis Player of the Year:
Mikalai Bankou, South Carolina State.
Softball Player of the Year:
Amari Brown, Florida A&M.
Baseball Player of the Year:
KJ White, Southern.
Women’s Golfer of the Year:
Marley Franklin, Howard.
Men’s Golfer of the Year:
Landon Cabingas, Fayetteville State.
Bowler of the Year:
Savannah Burgin, North Carolina A&T.
Women’s Soccer Player of the Year:
Alana Aiken, Grambling State.
Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Year:
Alyvia Brown, Texas Southern.
Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year:
Brian Kemei, Morehouse.
Women’s Basketball Player of the Year:
Nevaeh Farmer, Winston-Salem State.
Men’s Basketball Player of the Year:
Aaron Nkrumah, Tennessee State.
Defensive Football Player of the Year:
Erick Hunter, Morgan State.
Offensive Football Player of the Year:
Curtis Allen, Virginia Union.
Lifetime Achievement Award, Female:
Shirley Walker, Alcorn State.
Lifetime Achievement Award, Male:
Robert Braddy, Jackson State.
Track & Field Coach of the Year:
Franck Charles, Virginia Union.
Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year:
Tim Walsh, Coppin State.
Tennis Coach of the Year:
Anuk Christianz, Alabama State.
Softball Coach of the Year:
Tori Tyson, Howard.
Baseball Coach of the Year:
Jonathan Hernandez, Bethune-Cookman.
Golf Coach of the Year:
Sam Puryear, Howard.
Bowling Coach of the Year:
Kim Terrell-Kearney, North Carolina A&T.
Soccer Coach of the Year:
Ted Flogaites, Jackson State.
Cross Country Coach of the Year:
Kenneth Giles, Norfolk State.
Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year:
Tierra Terry, Winston-Salem State.
Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year:
Chris Wright, Langston.
Football Coach of the Year:
DeSean Jackson, Delaware State.
Best Social Media Presence:
Alabama State.
Best Broadcaster:
Thai Floyd, Alabama A&M.
Band of the Year:
Jackson State.
Conference Media Relations Director of the Year:
Andrew Roberts, SWAC.
Sports Information Director of the Year:
Derek Bryant, Howard.
Conference Commissioner of the Year:
Jacqie McWilliams Parker, CIAA.
Athletic Conference of the Year:
Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Female Student-Athlete of the Year:
McKenzie Abiley, Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Male Student-Athlete of the Year:
Jameison Alston, Winston-Salem State.
Athletic Director of the Year:
Anthony Bennett, Fayetteville State.
Athletic Program of the Year:
Howard
