Virginia Union

The Virginia Union University Panthers embody a dynastic basketball legacy, a rich history of producing legendary big men, and the proud, cultural spirit of a historic HBCU in Richmond, Virginia. The university's name is synonymous with championship basketball, where the men's program has established itself as one of the all-time greats in Division II, capturing three NCAA National Championships in 1980, 1992, and 2005. This golden era, primarily under legendary coach Dave Robbins, created a powerful legacy known as "Big Man U," producing a lineage of dominant, tough-nosed forwards and centers including NBA Hall of Famer Ben Wallace and the legendary Charles Oakley. The women's basketball program boasts its own equally impressive national championship pedigree, winning the 1983 NCAA title and making a modern run to the National Championship game in 2017. As a perennial powerhouse in the historic Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)—the nation's oldest Black athletic conference—VUU's winning culture also extends to a proud football program with a rich championship history of its own. The Virginia Union Panthers represent the gold standard of D-II and HBCU basketball, a proud institution defined by the banners in its rafters and the legendary names it sent to the highest level of the sport.