The Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls are the athletic teams that represent Johnson C. Smith University, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association since the 1926.

Conference affiliations

NCAA * Independent (1892–1925) * Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1926–present)

Varsity teams

Basketball

In 2001 the men's basketball team won the CIAA Basketball Tournament and advanced to the Division II Elite Eight. In 2006 the men's and women's basketball teams were the CIAA Western Division Champions and the Tournament Runners-up. In 2007 the men's basketball team were the 2007 CIAA Western Division Champions. In 2008 the men's basketball team won the 2008 CIAA Men's Basketball Championship. In 2009 the men's and women's basketball team won the 2009 CIAA basketball championship. Sports Illustrated named its venue "One of the Loudest Gymnasiums in the Country."

Football

Commemorative Classic: "''The Birth of Black College Football''"

On December 27, 1892, Livingstone College and Biddle College, (Johnson C. Smith) University played in the snows of

Salisbury, North Carolina Salisbury is a city in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, United States; it has been the county seat of Rowan County since 1753 when its territory extended to the Mississippi River. Located northeast of Charlotte and within its metropolita ...

, just two days after Christmas. A writer of a story in the 1930 year-book of Livingstone College provided a glimpse of that December experience when the team from Biddle Institute traveled to Livingstone's Old Delta Grove campus in Salisbury to play while writers recorded the results of a historic moment in sports history. According to historian T.M. Martin, the men of Biddle spent two years studying and practicing the sport of football. In 1892, they challenged the men of Livingstone, whose team was formally organized in the fall of that year.

Bowl games

Johnson C. Smith has made 6 bowl game appearances, winning 4 and losing 2. After an initial appearance in a postseason contest in the 1942 Flower Bowl against Lane College in a shutout, 13–0.

Notable alumni

Baseball

Mickey Casey William Cofer Casey (May 5, 1905 – January 1968), nicknamed "Mickey", was an American Negro league catcher between 1930 and 1942. A native of Newport News, Virginia, Casey attended Johnson C. Smith University. He made his Negro leagues ...

Bun Hayes Burnalle James Hayes (August 2, 1903 – November 29, 1969), nicknamed "Bun", was an American Negro league pitcher from 1928 to 1935. A native of Louisburg, North Carolina, Hayes attended Johnson C. Smith University and North Carolina Ce ...

* William Lindsay *

Steel Arm Johnny Taylor John Boyce Taylor (August 12, 1879 – March 25, 1956) was the second-oldest of four baseball-playing brothers, the others being Charles, Benjamin, and James. Taylor was a pitcher and played in professional pre-league and Negro league baseball ...

Orval Tucker Orval Tucker is an American former Negro league infielder who played in the 1930s. Tucker attended Johnson C. Smith University Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is a Private university, private Historically black colleges and universities, h ...

Basketball

Tyrone Britt Tyrone Britt (born April 18, 1944) is a retired American basketball player. He played collegiately for the Johnson C. Smith University. He played for the San Diego Rockets (1967–68) in the NBA The National Basketball Association (NB ...

Quentin Hillsman Quentin Jerome Hillsman (born October 16, 1970) was the head women's college basketball coach for the Syracuse Orange. He held that position from 2006 to 2021 and is only the fourth coach in the 40-year history of the program. Early life Hillsman ...

Edward Joyner Edward Joyner (born June 28, 1972) is an American college basketball coach and current head men's basketball coach at Hampton University Hampton University is a private, historically black, research university in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1 ...

Earl Manigault Earl Manigault (September 7, 1944 – May 15, 1998) was an American street basketball player who was nicknamed "The Goat". He is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players to never play in the NBA. Early years Earl Manigault was ...

Fred "Curly" Neal Frederick "Curly" Neal (May 19, 1942 – March 26, 2020) was an American basketball player who played with the Harlem Globetrotters, instantly recognizable with his shaved bald head. Following in the footsteps of Marques Haynes, Neal became the T ...

Trevin Parks Trevin Marcel Parks (born May 26, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for Södertälje BBK of the Basketligan. He played college basketball for UNC Charlotte and Johnson C. Smith, being named a Division II All-American twice. Hig ...

* James "Twiggy" Sanders *

Draff Young Draff Young (April 9, 1942 – March 24, 2012) was a National Basketball Association (NBA) coach. Draff had a lifetime love and passion for basketball. His inspiration for basketball was stirred when his Uncle Perry put a peach barrel rim on the ...

Football

Gregory Clifton Gregory T. Clifton (born February 6, 1968) is a former American football wide receiver. He played two games in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins in 1993. He played college football at Johnson C. Smith University and the Vir ...

* Tim Beamer * Jack S. Brayboy *

Grover Covington Grover Covington (born March 25, 1956) is a former Canadian Football League defensive end for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Professional career Covington's career began in 1981 as a free agent signin ...

*Bill Davis (coach), Bill Davis *De'Audra Dix *Bill Dusenbery *Chet Grimsley *Tim Harkness (American football), Tim Harkness *Benny Johnson (American football), Benny Johnson *Eddie McGirt *Pettis Norman *John Taylor (American football), John Taylor *John Terry (gridiron football), John Terry *Bob Wells (American football), Bob Wells *Emanuel Wilson (American football), Emanuel Wilson

Track and field

*Leford Green *Vincent Matthews (athlete), Vincent Matthews *Danielle Williams *Shermaine Williams

References

External links

* {{navboxes , titlestyle = {{CollegePrimaryStyle, Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls, color=white , list = {{Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association navbox {{College sports in North Carolina, state=collapsed Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls and Lady Golden Bulls,