TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Stillman College Department of Athletics has officially joined the newly named Historically Black Colleges & Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), as of today, July 1, 2024. The HBCUAC is the new name of the former Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC), which began in 1981.

Announced in October 2023, the Tigers now make the transition to the HBCU Athletic Conference after spending the previous six seasons in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC), its first conference home since returning to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in August 2016. Stillman qualified for 10 national tournaments during its short time in the SSAC, appearing in five men's basketball national tournaments, two men's cross country championships, one softball tournament and one men's track & field championship.

Stillman will bring a championship pedigree with it to the HBCUAC, as it returns to a conference made up entirely of HBCUs after decades competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the NAIA and NCAA Division II.

"Today is monumental, as Stillman returns to an HBCU conference and the NAIA's only HBCU conference. We believe our athletics footprint, geographical location, institutional values, academic standards, and historical lineage align with the HBCUAC standards," said Terrance Whittle, Stillman College athletic director and head baseball coach. "Moving to the HBCUAC will provide our entire institution and the city of Tuscaloosa increased exposure through championship hosting opportunities, HBCU+ media rights agreements and will reignite past rivalries and create new rivalries. We are excited to begin this new era and will continue to make our alumni and the city of Tuscaloosa proud as we build upon a tradition where winners thrive not only in competition, but in the classroom and in the community."

The new league consists of 13 member institutions: Stillman, Dillard, Fisk, Oakwood, Philander Smith, Rust, Southern New Orleans (SUNO), Talladega, Tougaloo, Virgin Islands, Voorhees, Wilberforce and Wiley. Voorhees and Wilberforce are also new members of the conference as of July 1, expanding the league to at least 10 teams and two automatic NAIA bids in women's volleyball, women's basketball, men's basketball and baseball. It also creates softball as a championship sport, and will have one automatic bid to NAIA championships for each women's cross country, men's cross country and softball.

"The HBCU Athletic Conference is dedicated to nurturing the whole student-athlete through strategic partnerships conference expansion, and sharing the rich heritage of our member schools we are moving in a direction that continues to show why we are the place Where Winners Thrive," said Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, HBCUAC commissioner.

Fielding 11 intercollegiate athletics teams, Stillman will compete in the HBCUAC in men's and women's cross country, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and men's and women's track & field. Stillman's men's and women's bowling programs will remain in the Southern States as an associate member.

Through Stillman College's more than 60 years of athletics history, the Tigers have produced more than 20 conference team championships across four sports, numerous individual conference track & field titles, and 32 national tournament appearances across five sports. National championships have been won by individuals in men's outdoor track and field, and men's basketball was declared the 2021 HBCU Small College National Champion. Four sports programs have had student-athletes become professional athletes, including 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Jeff Henderson (track & field).

About the HBCU Athletic Conference
As of July 1, 2024, The HBCU Athletic Conference is the new name of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) - the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (La.), Fisk University (Tenn.), Oakwood University (Ala.), Philander Smith University (Ark.) Rust College (Miss.), Southern University at New Orleans (La.), Stillman College (Ala.), Talladega College (Ala.), Tougaloo College (Miss.), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (S.C.), Wilberforce University (Ohio) and Wiley College (Texas). The HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, baseball and softball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. Through this partnership, the HBCUAC garnered nearly 1.5 million views of its championship live broadcasts. For more information visit www.hbcuac.org.

About Stillman College
Founded in 1876 after being authorized by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1875, Stillman College is a member institution of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). A coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Stillman College has a proud tradition of fostering academic excellence in preparing students for leadership and service. Athletically, Stillman College is home to championship programs, which have produced professional athletes and Olympians. Stillman offers 11 NAIA programs: women's basketball, bowling, cross country, softball, track, and volleyball; and men's baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country and track. For more information visit Stillman.edu and GoStillman.com.