History has shown that Division II HBCU football is packed with elite head coaches who have demonstrated the ability to build championship programs from the ground up.
Names such as Joe Taylor, Rod Broadway, and Chennis Berry are examples of this, further proving their coaching acumen after elevating to the Division I level.
Here, we will examine five HBCU coaches at the Division II level who have laid the blueprint for success in their programs and established themselves among the elite in the sport.
These are the five best coaches in Division II HBCU football today.
5. Dr. Henry Frazier III, Virginia State
If we were to look beyond his tenure at Virginia State, Dr. Henry Frazier III would be much higher than fifth on this list.
Dr. Frazier has been a winner everywhere he’s been, leading Bowie State to two CIAA championship appearances, guiding Prairie View A&M to its most recent SWAC championship, and producing North Carolina Central’s first winning season in its return to the MEAC in 2011.
Even his tenure at Virginia State has seen him take a Trojans team on the decline and make them an instant championship threat in his first three seasons.
He has led VSU to winning seasons in his three seasons, including overcoming overwhelming odds to lead them to the CIAA championship game last season.
Virginia State does not seem to be dropping out of the championship picture anytime soon, and that is due in large part to Dr. Frazier’s work.
4. Richard Hayes, Fayetteville State
With all the success Hayes has had since taking over as head coach at Fayetteville State in 2016, it would be a massive oversight not to mention him among the top coaches in Division II HBCU football.
Hayes has been the personification of consistency, establishing the Broncos as one of the premier programs in HBCU football, leading them to six straight CIAA championship berths.
In the first season since the CIAA abolished divisions, Fayetteville State recorded its first losing season since Hayes’ first year with the team.
The 2025 season will be key to the Broncos’ coach re-establishing himself and his team among the top coaches and programs Division II HBCU football has to offer.
3. Maurice Flowers, Johnson C. Smith
In a short amount of time, Maurice Flowers has transformed the Johnson C. Smith football program from a directionless middle-tier team to a superior championship contender.
Making his way to Charlotte in 2022 after a brief stint as head coach at Fort Valley State, Flowers improved the Golden Bulls from 2-7 in his first season to 7-4 the following year.
He followed this with a historic 2024 season, beginning with eight straight wins, marking Johnson C. Smith’s best start in school history.
The Golden Bulls have shown no signs of slowing down. They have put together a strong offseason, including adding former All-SIAC selections Kelvin Durham and Cam Williams.
Entering the 2025 season as the favorite to claim the CIAA championship, Flowers’ profile will surely rise if he can end JCSU’s championship drought.
2. Teddy Keaton, Clark Atlanta
Of all the turnaround jobs in HBCU football, none have been more impressive than Teddy Keaton, turning two dormant football teams into contenders overnight.
Coach Keaton has been a master in helping HBCU programs become championship contenders, dating back to his time at Stillman, where he led the team to consecutive winning seasons in its final days in the SIAC.
His name was put on the map nationally in his final year at Allen, 2023, when he led the Yellow Jackets from a 2-8 record the previous year to 7-3.
Keaton further cemented his reputation for building championship contenders when he was hired by a Clark Atlanta team that finished winless the year before.
Bringing along reigning SIAC Player of the Year quarterback David Wright III, the Panthers went from worst to first, posting a 7-3-1 overall record and clinching a spot in the conference championship game.
For the first time in a long time, Clark Atlanta is a football school, and Keaton is the main reason.
1. Dr. Alvin Parker, Virginia Union
Since taking over as head coach at Virginia Union in 2018, Dr. Alvin Parker has been the most accomplished HBCU football coach by a considerable margin.
Coach Parker has been named CIAA Coach of the Year twice and has accumulated a 50-17 overall record, including a 35-8 conference record.
Things began to pick up for Parker and the Panthers in 2022, coinciding with the rise of superstar running back Jada Byers.
Since then, Virginia Union has made it to the Division II Playoffs each season and has won consecutive CIAA championships in the past two years.
Though Coach Parker has proven he can win without Byers, showing he can lead the team to a championship will undoubtedly cement him as the top coach in Division II HBCU football.
