Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
Established	1912
Association	NCAA
Division	Division II
Members	12
Sports fielded	16 (men's: 8; women's: 8)
Region	Middle Atlantic States, South Atlantic States
Former names	Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Headquarters	Hampton, Virginia
Commissioner	Jacqie McWilliams (since September 2012)
Website	theciaa.com
Locations

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is a collegiate athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. CIAA institutions are affiliated at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Conference members are primarily located in North Carolina (eight) and Virginia (two). There is also one school from Maryland and another from Pennsylvania.

The CIAA sponsors 16 annual championships and is divided into Northern and Southern divisions in every sport except track and field, cross country, and baseball. The CIAA recently partnered with the startup network Bounce TV to televise sporting events and championships.

History

The CIAA, founded on the campus of Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) in 1912, is the oldest African-American athletic conference in the United States. It was originally known as the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in December 1950.

Founding leaders were Allen Washington and C.H. Williams of Hampton Institute; Ernest J. Marshall of Howard University; George Johnson of Lincoln University, PA ; W.E. Atkins, Charles Frasher, and H.P. Hargrave of Shaw University; and J.W. Barco and J.W. Pierce of Virginia Union University.^[1]

The CIAA's legacy dates back to 1892 when Livingstone College and Biddle University (now Johnson C. Smith University) played in the first football game between two African-American colleges. Many other sports also increased in popularity over the ensuing years.

Football is experiencing a major resurgence after going through a period of decline at several member universities. Football was absent from the campus of Saint Augustine's University for nearly three decades, before getting reinstated by the administration in 2002. Shaw University then brought back its football program in 2003, following a hiatus of 24 years.

Lincoln University, a charter member, added varsity football in 2008 and was readmitted to the CIAA after nearly three decades in Division III. Chowan University joined the CIAA in 2008 for football only. On October 14, 2008, the CIAA Board of Directors admitted Chowan as a full member effective July 1, 2009, the first non-HBCU to play in the conference.

The CIAA, founded in 1912, is composed predominantly of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) spanning the east coast from Pennsylvania to North Carolina.

On August 27, 2012, the CIAA announced the appointment of Jacqie Carpenter, the first African-American female commissioner to hold the position.^[2]

In 2014, a collection of records, including the original 1912 documents leading to the formation of the CIAA and meeting minutes from 1913-1922, were sold at auction after being discovered in a storage locker. The lot sold for $11,500 to an unnamed bidder.^[3]

Conference membership

A divisional format is used for basketball (M / W), football, softball, and volleyball.

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors	Joined
Northern Division
Bowie State University	Bowie, Maryland	1865	5,561	Bulldogs		1979
Chowan University	Murfreesboro, North Carolina	1848	1,316	Hawks		2009
Elizabeth City State University	Elizabeth City, North Carolina	1891	2,421	Vikings		1957
Lincoln University	Oxford, Pennsylvania	1854	2,650	Lions		1912; 2008
Virginia State University	Ettrick, Virginia	1882	4,900	Trojans		1920
Virginia Union University	Richmond, Virginia	1865	1,700	Panthers		1912
Southern Division
Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville, North Carolina	1867	5,000	Broncos		1954
Johnson C. Smith University	Charlotte, North Carolina	1867	1,500	Golden Bulls		1926
Livingstone College	Salisbury, North Carolina	1879	1,200	Blue Bears		1931
Saint Augustine's University	Raleigh, North Carolina	1867	1,500	Falcons		1933
Shaw University	Raleigh, North Carolina	1865	2,800	Bears		1912
Winston–Salem State University	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	1892	6,000	Rams		1945; 2010

• Chowan — football was an affiliate member in 2008–09.
• Lincoln (PA) — left the CIAA in 1980, and re-joined in 2008.
• Winston–Salem State — left the CIAA in 2006, and re-joined in 2010.

Former members

Institution	Location	Founded	Nickname	Joined	Left	Current Conference
Bluefield State College	Bluefield, West Virginia	1895	Big Blues	1932	1955	Independent
Delaware State University	Dover, Delaware	1891	Hornets	1945	1970	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
Hampton University	Hampton, Virginia	1868	Pirates	1912	1995	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
Howard University	Washington, D.C.	1867	Bison	1912	1970	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
Maryland-Eastern Shore !University of Maryland Eastern Shore	Princess Anne, Maryland	1886	Hawks	1954	1970	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
Morgan State University	Baltimore, Maryland	1867	Bears	1929	1970	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
Norfolk State University	Norfolk, Virginia	1935	Spartans	1962	1996	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University	Greensboro, North Carolina	1891	Aggies	1924	1970	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
North Carolina Central University	Durham, North Carolina	1910	Eagles	1928; 1980	1970; 2007	MEAC (NCAA D-I)
Saint Paul's College	Lawrenceville, Virginia	1888	Tigers	1923	2011	Closed in 2013
Virginia University of Lynchburg	Lynchburg, Virginia	1886	Dragons	1921	1954	USCAA
West Virginia State University	Institute, West Virginia	1891	Yellow Jackets	1942	1955	Mountain East

Membership timeline

 Full member (all sports)   Full member (non-football)   Associate member (football-only)   Associate member (sport) 

Sports

Conference sports

Sport	Men's	Women's
Baseball	Y
Basketball	Y	Y
Bowling		Y
Cross Country	Y	Y
Football	Y
Golf	Y
Softball		Y
Tennis	Y	Y
Track & Field Indoor	Y	Y
Track & Field Outdoor	Y	Y
Volleyball		Y

Men's sponsored sports by school

School	Baseball	Basketball	Cross Country	Football	Golf	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Total CIAA Sports
Bowie State		Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	5
Chowan	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			6
Elizabeth City State	(Y)	Y	Y	Y	Y				4
Fayetteville State		Y	Y	Y	Y				4
Johnson C. Smith		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Lincoln (PA)	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	Y	6
Livingstone College		Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	6
Saint Augustine's	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	7
Shaw		Y	Y	Y		Y		Y	5
Virginia State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Virginia Union		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Winston-Salem State	Y	Y	Y	Y					4
Totals	5	12	12	12	8	5	7	8	69

• Elizabeth City State — Baseball is suspended with an anticipated return in the 2017–18 academic year.^[4]

Women's sponsored sports by school

School	Basketball	Bowling ‡	Cross Country	Softball	Tennis	Track & Field Indoor	Track & Field Outdoor	Volleyball	Total CIAA Sports
Bowie State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Chowan	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	6
Elizabeth City State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	6
Fayetteville State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y			Y	6
Johnson C. Smith	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Lincoln (PA)	Y		Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	6
Livingstone College	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Saint Augustine's	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	Y	7
Shaw	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y		Y	Y	7
Virginia State	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Virginia Union	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	8
Winston-Salem State	Y		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	7
Totals	12	10	12	12	10	8	9	12	85

• ^‡ — D-I sport

Other sponsored sports by school

School		Men		Women
		Soccer		Golf	Lacrosse	Soccer
Chowan		IND		IND	IND	IND
Lincoln (PA)						IND

Conference facilities

School	Football		Basketball
	Stadium	Capacity	Arena	Capacity
Bowie State	Bulldog Stadium	6,000	A.C. Jordan Arena	2,200
Chowan	Garrison Stadium	5,000	Helms Center	3,500
Elizabeth City State	Roebuck Stadium	6,500	R. L. Vaughn Center	5,000
Fayetteville State	Luther "Nick" Jeralds Stadium	5,520	Felton J. Capel Arena	4,000
Johnson C. Smith	Irwin Belk Complex	4,500	Brayboy Gymnasium	2,316
Lincoln (PA)	Lincoln University Stadium	3,000	Manuel Rivero Hall	3,000
Livingstone	Alumni Memorial Stadium	5,500	William Trent Gymnasium	1,500
Saint Augustine's	George Williams Athletic Complex	2,500	Emery Gymnasium	1,000
Shaw	Durham County Stadium	8,500	C.C. Spaulding Gym	1,500
Virginia State	Rogers Stadium	13,500	Daniel Gymnasium	3,454
Virginia Union	Hovey Field	10,000	Barco-Stevens Hall	2,000
Winston–Salem State	Bowman Gray Stadium	22,000	C.E. Gaines Center	3,200

Basketball tournament

It was the first NCAA Division II conference to have its tournament televised as part of Championship Week on ESPN. Over 115,000 fans attended the 2007 CIAA tournament.^[5]

Cheerleading

The CIAA cheering squads practice Stomp 'N Shake that incorporates voice, gymnastics, and dance. Over the past few decades, S-N-S has evolved into a more technical style, priding itself on precision, accuracy, and creativity. Included in this style are the techniques of up-stomp, up-step, down-stomp, kick, side-kick, roll, roll-break, power-arms, slpaz-hand, clasp, blade, and the shakes(car-wash shake, single shake, double shake, hit-shake, and jiggle-pop). CIAA Cheerleading is most known for its cheer battles. This is where squads battle each other during games verbally with chants. It provides a heightened level of excitement and competition to the sports they are cheering for. It showcases cheerleading in a different dimension. Only in this style can you excite the crowd, rally them to cheer on the team, cheer on the team and slay your opponent all at the same time.

SQUADS

Institution	Squad name
Bowie State University	Golden Girls
Chowan University	Sapphires
Elizabeth City State University	Dee-Lite Cheerleaders
Fayetteville State University	Cheer Phi Smoov Cheerleaders
Johnson C. Smith University	Luv-A-Bull Cheerleaders
Lincoln University (PA)	Fe-Lions Cheerleaders
Livingstone College	La La's Cheerleaders
Saint Augustine's University	BlueChip Cheerleaders
Shaw University	Chi Chi Cheerleaders
Virginia State University	Woo Woo Cheerleaders
Virginia Union University	Rah Rah Cheerleaders
Winston-Salem State University	Cheer Phi Cheerleaders

References

External links

• Official website

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division Bowie State Bulldogs Chowan Hawks Elizabeth City State Vikings Lincoln (PA) Lions Virginia State Trojans Virginia Union Panthers Southern Division Fayetteville State Broncos Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls Livingstone Blue Bears St. Augustine's Falcons Shaw Bears Winston–Salem State Rams

NCAA Division II Atlantic Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Mountain East Conference Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Independent — Bluefield State College Central Great American Conference Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference East Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference East Coast Conference Northeast-10 Conference Midwest Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Great Lakes Valley Conference Great Midwest Athletic Conference Independent — Oakland City University South Gulf South Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Sunshine State Conference South Central Heartland Conference Lone Star Conference Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Southeast Conference Carolinas Peach Belt Conference South Atlantic Conference West California Collegiate Athletic Association Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pacific West Conference Division II Independents ECAC Division II Lacrosse League Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association NCAA Conferences Institutions Baseball (Championship) Basketball (Men, Women) Cross Country (Men, Women) Field Hockey (Championship) Football (Championship) Golf (Men, Women) Lacrosse (Men, Women) Rowing (Championship) Soccer (Men, Women) Softball (Championship) Swimming & Diving (Men, Women) Tennis (Men, Women) Track & Field (Men's indoor and outdoor, Women's indoor and outdoor) Volleyball (Championship) Wrestling (Championship) Discontinued — Ice Hockey (Championship)

NCAA Division II football conferences Super Region 1 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Mountain East Conference Northeast-10 Conference Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Super Region 2 Gulf South Conference South Atlantic Conference Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Independent Limestone College University of North Carolina at Pembroke North Greenville University Super Region 3 Great American Conference Great Northwest Athletic Conference Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Super Region 4 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Great Lakes Valley Conference Lone Star Conference Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Independent Alderson Broaddus University Kentucky Wesleyan College Oklahoma Panhandle State University Division II Independents Future University of Texas of the Permian Basin (2016) University of West Florida (2016) NCAA Conferences Institutions Football (Championship)