Howard University Dominates 2025 HBCU Sports Awards, Signaling a Banner Year for Bison Athletics
Washington, D.C. – August 14, 2025 – As Howard University prepares to launch its 2025-26 athletics season, the Bison have already made headlines by sweeping five major honors at the prestigious 2025 HBCU Sports Awards, underscoring their growing stature within the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) sports landscape. Leading all HBCUs with 16 nominations and recognition across 46 award categories, Howard’s athletes, coaches, and administrators stood out in a competitive field that spans football, basketball, golf, soccer, and athletic administration.
The spotlight shone brightest on Howard’s women’s soccer program under head coach Brent Leiba, who earned Soccer Coach of the Year honors after steering the team to its first Northeast Conference (NEC) Regular Season and Tournament championships with an impressive 11-5-5 overall record (8-1-1 in NEC play), culminating in an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2018. Leiba’s leadership epitomizes the rise of Howard’s program to new competitive heights.
Equally notable was Sam Puryear, Howard’s golf coach, who captured Golf Coach of the Year following back-to-back NEC titles. His squad’s resilience was highlighted by overcoming a seven-stroke deficit entering the final round, reflecting a tenacious spirit emblematic of Howard’s athletics. Sophomore golfer Paris Fieldings made history as the first Bison to win the NEC Player of the Year award, earning her the Women’s Golfer of the Year distinction.
On the hardwood, freshman guard Blake Harper made an immediate impact, grabbing Men’s Basketball Player of the Year honors after a remarkable season that made him the first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s (MEAC) 54-year history to secure both Player and Rookie of the Year awards simultaneously. Harper’s performance points to a bright future for Howard basketball and signifies the program’s emergence as a regional powerhouse.
Complementing these athletic achievements, Howard’s Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations and Sports Information, Derek W. Bryant, was recognized as Sports Information Director of the Year, marking the critical role of media and communications excellence in elevating HBCU sports profiles nationally.
Howard’s sweep of these prestigious awards reflects a broader momentum across the university’s athletics programs. This recognition follows the school’s recent victory as the recipient of the Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s All-Sports Award for the 2024-25 academic year, a testament to the sustained success and depth of Howard’s women’s sports teams.
Beyond Howard’s accomplishments, the HBCU sports scene is buzzing with anticipation for February 2026’s Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, spotlighting NFL draft-eligible HBCU talent. Meanwhile, Jackson State, reigning 2024 football champions, enter the 2025 season as preseason favorites, setting the stage for a compelling campaign within the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
In basketball news, the historic HBCU Hoops Invitational is set to make waves at the Walt Disney World Resort, combining athletic competition with a boost to sports tourism and visibility for HBCU basketball programs.
Coach Brent Leiba reflected on his team’s impressive season saying, “Our success is a testament to the hard work these young women put in every day. Winning the NEC titles and returning to the NCAA Tournament speaks to the culture we’ve built. We’re just getting started.” Blake Harper added, “Being named Player and Rookie of the Year validates all the sweat and dedication. I’m honored to represent Howard and look forward to helping bring more success.”
Looking ahead, Howard’s athletics department aims to build on this foundation by leveraging these individual and team successes alongside broader institutional support. The synergy between top-tier coaching, recruitment of promising talent, and enhanced media presence positions the Bison to continue growing as a beacon of excellence in HBCU sports.
Upcoming games include the kickoff of Howard’s women’s soccer season on August 14 at Greene Stadium against North Florida, a highly anticipated contest that promises to showcase the formidable squad led by Coach Leiba. The basketball and golf programs also look forward to campaigns that will test their mettle in both conference and national competitions.
As the HBCU sports ecosystem continues to expand, Howard University exemplifies how tradition, talent, and tenacity converge to create a dynamic and inspiring athletic narrative—one that reverberates far beyond the field, court, or fairway. The rise of programs like Howard’s not only fuels competition but also honors a century-long legacy of HBCUs as pillars of culture, community, and opportunity in American sports.
By [Veteran HBCU Sports Journalist]