Program History
BRIEF NCCU TRACK AND FIELD HISTORY
The NCCU Track and Field Program is not only the University’s most successful and highest achieving athletic program to date, but also its highest outreach into Division I and International competition. Up until the late 1970s, NCAA Div. I rules allowed Division II track and field programs to compete in their championships based on performance criteria.
Under the leadership of legendary coach Dr. LeRoy T. Walker from 1945 to 1977, NCCU track and field teams went on to place 6th in the Division I championships in 1964, and 4th in 1974 (The highest ranking of any historically black college in Div. I track and field championship history). They are also tied with the University of North Carolina (1950 and 1996 teams) as the highest ranking of any North Carolina University or college in Division I track and field championship history.
Dr. Walker coached 111 All Americans, 40 national champions, and 11 gold medalists during his storied track and field coaching career. However, it is a little known fact that 7 Olympians, producing 5 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze Olympic medals came directly from his NCCU track and field program. This program also yielded 16 male and 3 female National Champions. In 1972 his team won the NAIA Track and Field National Championships, the first national championship in University history. They also were runner-up in the 1964, 1965 and 1971 NAIA National Championships. In addition they won 3 CIAA Conference titles in 1964, 1965, 1971 and 3 MEAC titles in 1972, 1973, and 1974.
After a down turn in the program’s performance following Dr. Walker’s retirement in 1977, Michael Lawson began his tenure as track coach from 1989 to 2016. (Including the sport of Cross Country), he has earned 14 coach of the year awards in conference and regional competition. His student athletes have earned 59 all American citations and 10 Division II individual awards. The 2007 men’s team earned its highest team finish at the Division II indoor national championships with a 3rd place finish. Tavius Walker took over the coaching reigns in 2016 and is poised to fill the foot prints of the successful coaches before him.
The NCCU Track and Field Program is not only the University’s most successful and highest achieving athletic program to date, but also its highest outreach into Division I and International competition. Up until the late 1970s, NCAA Div. I rules allowed Division II track and field programs to compete in their championships based on performance criteria.
Under the leadership of legendary coach Dr. LeRoy T. Walker from 1945 to 1977, NCCU track and field teams went on to place 6th in the Division I championships in 1964, and 4th in 1974 (The highest ranking of any historically black college in Div. I track and field championship history). They are also tied with the University of North Carolina (1950 and 1996 teams) as the highest ranking of any North Carolina University or college in Division I track and field championship history.
Dr. Walker coached 111 All Americans, 40 national champions, and 11 gold medalists during his storied track and field coaching career. However, it is a little known fact that 7 Olympians, producing 5 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze Olympic medals came directly from his NCCU track and field program. This program also yielded 16 male and 3 female National Champions. In 1972 his team won the NAIA Track and Field National Championships, the first national championship in University history. They also were runner-up in the 1964, 1965 and 1971 NAIA National Championships. In addition they won 3 CIAA Conference titles in 1964, 1965, 1971 and 3 MEAC titles in 1972, 1973, and 1974.
After a down turn in the program’s performance following Dr. Walker’s retirement in 1977, Michael Lawson began his tenure as track coach from 1989 to 2016. (Including the sport of Cross Country), he has earned 14 coach of the year awards in conference and regional competition. His student athletes have earned 59 all American citations and 10 Division II individual awards. The 2007 men’s team earned its highest team finish at the Division II indoor national championships with a 3rd place finish. Tavius Walker took over the coaching reigns in 2016 and is poised to fill the foot prints of the successful coaches before him.