Bluefield State ‘back home’ with the CIAA after long hiatus

For the first time in nearly 70 years, Bluefield State University’s basketball teams will be competing in the cherished CIAA tournament. 

Reuniting with the nation’s longest-running African American athletic conference, and one of the most vibrant conferences in all of college sports, has been nothing short of rewarding for Bluefield State.

It was a blessing “to come back home” and compete against the other 12 CIAA member institutions, said Derrick Price, who serves as Bluefield State’s athletic director.

Located in Bluefield, West Virginia, BSU belongs to the CIAA’s Northern Division – along with Virginia Union, Virginia State, Elizabeth City State, Bowie State and Lincoln. Bluefield State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will be going for their first-ever conference titles.

“Having that opportunity to compete in the CIAA – it was historic, it was a blessing and it was nothing but excitement for our university to say ‘wow, we are actually back home in the CIAA,’ and that means everything to us,” said Price, whose official title is vice president of intercollegiate athletics.

“Our student-athletes are absolutely ecstatic to get a chance to just enjoy this. I think we’ll be a little star-struck to start this thing off but it’s not just about basketball; it’s giving these students an opportunity to really branch out and do something beyond the game of basketball.”

Paul Davis, the women’s basketball head coach, also played and coached basketball at Winston-Salem State University, a longtime CIAA member institution. He’s also been an assistant coach at Livingstone, another conference program.

It was essentially a dream come true when he found out he’d be back in the conference he has close ties to.

“It was more like a dream come true, and not only for me; it was exciting for our student-atheltes most importantly,” said Davis, who is in his third year as head of the program.

“Atmospheres in the CIAA— you cannot simulate these atmospheres. You have to really be there in person to really know the electrifying feeling that the atmosphere gives.”

From 2016-18, Davis was an assistant men’s basketball coach at WSSU. From 2019-21, he was an assistant for Livingstone’s women’s program. From 2007-11, the 6-foot-9 Davis was a star forward for WSSU.

CIAA officials announced that BSU would be rejoining the conference in a statement released last summer.

“I am elated to welcome Bluefield State University home after a 68-year gap from being members of the CIAA!” CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker said. “We look forward to renewing old rivalries and expanding our footprint to build on the legacies that impact our HBCU communities.”

Junior guard Zaynah Robinson has been with BSU’s women’s basketball program since the 2021-22 season. She is one of the few athletes on campus with local ties.

Robinson, a Severn (Anne Arundel County) native, starred at Fort Meade High School where she earned several honors. She is elated to play in front of former teammates, coaches, relatives and friends.

“I’m super excited to go back home. I’m actually not too far from Baltimore, so I’ll definitely have a lot of family there,” Robinson said. 

“This will be my first time ever going to the CIAA Tournament to be there and to play, so I’m definitely excited to see that.”

Robinson recorded eight points and three assists in 22 minutes against Lincoln on Jan. 31. As of Feb. 18, the Big Blue are 13-10 overall and have won their last three contests. The outcome of their final three matchups of the regular season three in the most favorable seed entering the basketball tournament.

Led by Jordan Hines with 19.1 points per game, BSU men’s team is 7-19 overall and 4-11 in conference play. The women’s team holds a No. 4 ranking in the Northern Divsion with an even 7-7 record in CIAA play.

Bluefield State, one of two HBCUs in West Virginia, was a part of the CIAA from 1932 to 1955. Over the last seven decades, the school has been with other conferences and was an independent Division II program for about a decade prior to being readmitted to the CIAA.

Over the past four years, the school has brought back about a dozen sports and plans to add a cheerleading team to its athletic program for the 2024-25 academic year.

“Bluefield State College is excited and honored to be a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association,” Bluefield State President Robin Capehart said.

“Our student-athletes, teams, alumni, and every member of Big Blue Nation will benefit from membership in this outstanding conference.”