NEW ORLEANS – Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) announced it’s undergoing a rebrand from the GGAC to the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC). Also, the conference will have a new sponsorship deal with Hope Credit Union (HOPE). The new HBCUAC will still remain affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with Dr. Kiki Baker-Barnes as the league’s commissioner.
“We’re excited to take this next step in strengthening our conference brand,” Commissioner Dr. Kiki Baker-Barnes told HBCU Legends.
The conference’s rebranding as the “HBCU Athletic Conference” will have a new tagline of “Where Winners Thrive.” Hope Credit Union (HOPE) will become the title sponsor for the HBCU Athletic Conference’s basketball and baseball championships and its official banking partner.
The new logo will go into effect on July 1, 2024, and have a typography of Helvetica Now Display and a color scheme of Black, White, and Light Blue with a hex of #4AA8D2. Ten35 spearheaded the HBCUAC logo design. Leneithra Lowrey-Winfrey, Sharise Crumley, and Samyuktha Baliga led the logo design project.
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BEHIND THE REBRANDING
The HBCU Athletic Conference represents a dynamic evolution in our commitment to excellence and student-athlete empowerment. As we embrace this new identity, we are excited to showcase the vibrant legacy of our member institutions. We have set out to share stories of impact at the intersection of heritage and higher education.
In addition to our new brand identity, our banking partner, Hope Credit Union, has agreed to renew its contract for three years, becoming the largest sponsorship contract in conference history.
REBRAND COMMITTEE
- Nataeya Dickerson (Chair Association of Student-Athletes – Oakwood Volleyball
- Laila Eliotti (Co-Chair Association of Student-Athletes) – Fisk Women’s Basketball
- Roderick Smothers (Former Chair of AD committee) – Former Philander Smith AD
- Kayla Black (Former Chair of VB Coach Committee) – Former Philander Smith Women’s VB HC
- Eric Jackson (Chair of Coach Committee – WBB) – Rust Women’s Basketball HC
- Andrew Glover (Chair of SID Committee) – Wiley SID
- Jarvis Stephen (Former President – GCAC) – Former Rust College AD
- Kelly Brooks (GCAC Staff) – Chief Operating Officer
- Dani Wright (GCAC Staff) – Director of Strategic Communications & Marketing
- Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes (GCAC Staff) – Commissioner
- Dr. Herman Felton (Chair of Council of Presidents) – President Wiley University
REBRANDING HIGHLIGHTS
An Inspiring Tagline – Where Winners Thrive: Our new tagline, “Where Winners Thrive,” encapsulates the spirit of the HBCU Athletic Conference. We believe in nurturing athletic prowess and the holistic development of our student-athletes, ensuring they win both on and off the field.
Strategic Partnerships
The HBCU Athletic Conference actively seeks partnerships with organizations that share our vision for promoting excellence in collegiate sports. Through these partnerships, we aim to create unparalleled opportunities for our student-athletes while enhancing their experiences at HBCUs.
HBCUAC MEMBER INSTITUTIONS
Member Institutions (through 2023-2024)
Dillard University…………………………………………………………New Orleans, LAn
Fisk University………………………………………………………………Nashville, TNn
Oakwood University………………………………………………….Huntsville, ALn
Philander Smith University……………………………………Little Rock, ARn
Rust College…………………………………………………………………..Holly Springs, MSn
Southern University at New Orleans………………..New Orleans, LAn
Talladega College………………………………………………………..Talladega, ALn
Tougaloo College…………………………………………………………Tougaloo, MSn
University of the Virgin Islands……………………………St. Thomas, VIn
Wiley College…………………………………………………………………Marshall, TXn
Member Additions Beginning July 1, 2024
Stillman College……………………………………………………………Tuscaloosa, ALn
Voorhees University…………………………………………………..Denmark, SCn
Wilberforce University……………………………………………..Wilberforce, OH
Hope Credit Union
HOPE, the nation’s leading Black- and women-owned financial institution, aims to eradicate the Black-white Homeownership Gap in the Deep South by increasing accessibility to affordable mortgages. By 2032, HOPE aims to help 12,000 Black households become homeowners across the Deep South annually.
HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union, and Hope Policy Institute) provides financial services, aggregates resources, and engages in advocacy to mitigate the extent to which factors such as race, gender, birthplace, and wealth limit one’s ability to prosper. Since 1994, HOPE has generated more than $3.9 billion in financing, benefiting more than 2.7 million people in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
