CIAA Celebrates Its 100th Year

The 1965-66 Elizabeth City State University basketball team in dress attire

The 1965-66 Elizabeth City State University basketball team in dress attire with mascot Bobby Vaughan Jr. The photo was taken before the team headed to the CIAA tournament in Greensboro, N.C.

 
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), founded in 1912, is celebrating its centennial as basketball teams from twelve member institutions and fans gather today in Charlotte to kick off the annual tournament. This article from today’s News & Observer tells the story of the CIAA basketball conference. 
 
The CIAA consists predominantly of historically Black colleges and universities. You can view materials from member schools past and present — including Elizabeth City State University, Chowan University (the first non-HBCU to participate in the conference), Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, Saint Augustine’s College, Shaw University, and Winston-Salem State University — on DigitalNC.org. Some highlights are below.

 

Photos of the top basketball players to play in the 1950 CIAA tournament

Top players from the 1950 tournament, from the March 11, 1950 edition of The Carolina Times.

 
Advertisement for the 1953 CIAA tournament

Ad from the February 21, 1953 edition of The Carolina Times.

 

 
 
Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, from the Winston-Salem State College Rams, and others

Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and others. The Winston-Salem State College Rams brought home the CIAA trophy in 1967. Image from the 1967 volume of “Red and White,” the Winston-Salem State University student yearbook. 

Page from the 1958 edition of The Ayantee, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University's student yearbook, depicting that year's CIAA championship team.

Page from the 1958 edition of “The Ayantee,” North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University’s student yearbook, depicting that year’s CIAA championship team.

Elizabeth City State University basketball coach Bobby Vaughan

In 1992, Elizabeth City State University basketball coach Bobby Vaughan was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Under Vaughan’s leadership, the basketball team won five CIAA Divisional Championships and two CIAA tournaments. Image from the 1992 volume of “The Viking,” the Elizabeth City State University student yearbook.


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