Groundbreaking Black Athletes to Remember (2024)

Caslee Sims| Staff Writer

When most think of the history of N.C. State athletics, they are reminded of things such as Riddick Field, the former home of the Wolfpack football team, or Reynolds Coliseum, the house that Everett Case and Kay Yow built. Important figures such as Presidents have been in Reynolds and it was the home of the Pack’s two National Championship-winning men’s basketball teams.

But while these stadiums are notable for the coaches they were home to and the great teams that played in them, the individual athletes are most important to the aforementioned success of these various playing fields.

N.C. State has built a tradition of standout athletes; African-Americans were vital to the success of the university as well as making the transition from the Southern Conference (SoCon) to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) a smooth one.

Since joining the ACC in 1953, N.C. State has had its fair share of African-Americans being named to All-American teams as well as history makers who made very positive contributions to their respective programs.

To talk about the struggles they faced as students would be fitting for a different article- anyone who is familiar with the time of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Era can infer maybe only a snippet of the hardships these student-athletes endured.

Making strides to become included in Wolfpack athletics proved to be a very difficult task. Pioneers such as Irwin Holmes, the tennis player and first African-American to integrate a team at this university, and Al Heartley, the first African-American to debut on the Wolfpack men’s basketball team, set a path that has led to continued success for African-American athletes at N.C. State.

The list can go on for days, but here are just a few with respect to the many other wonderful African-American athletes that made their mark as a part of the ACC and specifically the Wolfpack:

David Thompson, Forward, N.C. State Basketball (1972-75)

When you think of N.C. State basketball, as well as devising your list of greatest college basketball players ever, David Thompson should be on it.

Actually, Thompson is N.C. State basketball.

During his tenure in Raleigh, Thompson was a three-time consensus All-American and once named ACC Player of the Year. Thompson was named National Player of the Year twice and ended his career as N.C. State’s and the ACC’s all-time leading scorer.

David Thompson was a true scorer and was a pioneer of the “alley-oop”. To cap his career off, Thompson was a part of N.C. State’s 1974 National Championship winning team.

Lorenzo Charles, Forward, N.C. State Basketball (1981-85)

The 1983 season for the N.C. State Wolfpack was a season of ups-and-downs. They finished the regular season with a 17-10 record, going 8-6 in the ACC and looked as if they had no chance to be included in the NCAA tournament. A surprising ACC tournament title granted them a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Coach Jim Valvano’s “one game at a time” mentality and strategic coaching prowess lead the Wolfpack all the way to the 1983 National Championship where they would face off against the Houston Cougars.

With the game hanging in the balance and time running out, Lorenzo Charles made his mark.

As guard Dereck Whittenburg hoisted up a long shot which proved to be an air ball, Charles snatched it out of the air and dunked it as time expired to give the Wolfpack a 54-52 win that would crown them champions of the 1983 season, a game and finish either team will never forget.

Rodney Monroe, Guard, N.C. State Basketball (1987-91)

“Ice” was his nickname, which was fitting for Rodney Monroe’s quiet intensity, as he would go on to pass David Thompson’s school scoring record with 2,551 career points. Together with backcourt mate, Chris “Fire” Corchiani, the two became one of the most dangerous duos the ACC has ever seen.

One of Monroe’s best games came on January 13, 1991 as the Wolfpack trailed Georgia Tech 50-38 at halftime. Georgia Tech would prove to be no match for Monroe’s cool demeanor as the Pack would go on to win 90-83 in historic Reynolds Coliseum. Georgia Tech scored 33 points in the second half; Monroe would score 31 by himself.

Torry Holt, Wide Receiver, N.C. State Football (1995-98)

Wolfpack football’s Torry Holt rewrote the school record books. He ended his illustrious career with the Wolfpack by being named a consensus All-American. Not only did Holt set school records, he made his mark in the ACC record books as well.

He finished with an ACC record of 3,379 career-receiving yards and was named ACC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in his senior campaign.

Holt’s jersey was retired coincidentally in Reynolds Coliseum during halftime of the last N.C. State-UNC basketball game in the historic venue.

Mario Williams, Defensive End, N.C. State Football (2003-06)

A nightmare for opposing quarterbacks every weekend, Mario Williams too made his mark in the ACC. Helping to form one of the best defensive lines in the country, Williams tallied an impressive 14.5 sacks in 2005 as a junior for the Wolfpack- a school record.

Russell Wilson, Quarterback, N.C. State Football (2008-10)

Russell Wilson stands as the only ACC Quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Although his college football career did not stop at N.C. State, he was very impressive while he was a member of Wolfpack football.

Wilson also became the first freshman quarterback to be named first team All-ACC and set a then record for most pass completions without an interception.

Wilson started for the Wolfpack for three seasons, from 2008 to 2010. A three-time All-ACC quarterback, Wilson threw for 8,545 yards and 76 touchdowns in his Wolfpack career. As a fourth-year junior, he led N.C. State to a 9-4 record and a No. 25 ranking in the final AP top 25 in 2010.

Sidney Lowe, Guard, N.C. State Basketball (1979-83) Coach (2006-11)

A player on Coach Jim Valvano’s 1983 National Championship winning team, Sidney Lowe became N.C. State’s first African-American head basketball coach.

One of Lowe’s biggest moments came when the Wolfpack beat 3rd ranked North Carolina in 2007, the highest ranked team a first-year head coach has ever defeated in school history.

The ACC has seen wonderful athletes in its league; N.C. State has had great athletes to put on the jerseys and gear. But with respect to all those who have made contributions, African-American athletes and coaches making historic marks in the ACC and at N.C. State is a tradition that runs deep and has not ceased.

Groundbreaking Black Athletes to Remember (2024)

FAQs

Who was an influential Black sports player? ›

Jackie Robinson

In a moment that transcended sports and became one of the defining moments in American history, Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. He made his Major League Debut in 1947, becoming the first African-American to play in the major leagues and breaking the so-called 'color barrier'.

Who were the Black athletes that broke the color barrier in sports? ›

  • Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier when he became the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball after joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. ...
  • Joe Louis. ...
  • Althea Gibson. ...
  • Muhammad Ali.
Jun 12, 2023

Who was the first Black NBA MVP? ›

Win NBA MVP: In just his second NBA season, Bill Russell became the first African-American to win MVP when he averaged 16.6 points and 22.7 rebounds. It was the first of five MVPs for Russell, who would also go on to win a record 11 NBA titles.

Who is an iconic Black leader? ›

Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks are often elevated—and with good reason. These figures made contributions to Black history and, by extension, American history, that cannot be overstated.

Who was the first Black sports superstar? ›

Major Taylor came first.” Between 1896 and around 1910, before Jack Johnson, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis, there was Major Taylor, the first authentic and recognized Black sports superstar in America.

What sport was invented by a black man? ›

Billy Blanks is famous for inventing Tae Bo, a fitness program that combines martial arts, boxing, and aerobics.

Who was the first black world champion in any sport? ›

First African American to win a gold medal at the Track Cycling World Championships: Major Taylor (Sprint). This also made him the first African American to achieve world championship in any sport.

Who was the first black NFL player? ›

How It Happened. In 1920, Fritz Pollard became the first African-American to play in the NFL during its formative years. However, in the years after Fritz's departure, the NFL owners imposed a “gentleman's agreement” preventing the signing of more black players.

Who is the famous black female sprinter? ›

Did you know the fastest person in the world was an African American woman? Meet Florence Joyner, better known as, "Flo Jo," as we continue to celebrate Black History Month.

Who is Nike's greatest female athlete ever? ›

NIKE Greatest (Female) Athlete Ever (2016)

Celebrate Serena Williams' greatness, driving educational narrative behind the word-driven in her attempt to win the 23rd title in the US Open 2016 and ultimately 25.

Who is the famous black girl tennis? ›

Althea Gibson became the first Black woman to win Wimbledon when she won the tournament in 1957. The Williams sisters, arguably, rank as the most dominant siblings ever in tennis. Venus Williams has won seven Grand Slam titles and her sister Serena has 39, which ties her for fourth all-time.

Who was a Black sports pioneer? ›

Jackie Robinson. Number 42, Jackie Robinson was the first Black Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He was 28 years old when he took the field starting for the Dodgers on April 15, 1947. That day Robinson slammed the door on a nearly 60-year ban that prevented Black athletes from competing in the MLB.

Who was the first Black MLB player? ›

Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the color line when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.

Who was the first African American to win a Stanley Cup? ›

He played 912 regular season games, scoring 320 goals with 319 assists. Grant Fuhr is a black Canadian goaltender. Making his NHL debut in the 1981–82 season, he was the first black goalie in the NHL and later became the first black player to win the Stanley Cup in 1984.

Who were the influential African Americans in football? ›

African-American pioneers in pro football
  • 1 / 13. Jim Brown - Cleveland Browns - File Photos. ...
  • 2 / 13. 1967 NFL Championship Game - Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers - December 31, 1967. ...
  • 3 / 13. Bobby Mitchell - File Photos. ...
  • 4 / 13. Deacon Jones - Los Angeles Rams - File Photos. ...
  • 5 / 13. ...
  • 6 / 13. ...
  • 7 / 13. ...
  • 8 / 13.

Who was the first black player in the NFL? ›

In 1920, Fritz Pollard became the first African-American to play in the NFL during its formative years. However, in the years after Fritz's departure, the NFL owners imposed a “gentleman's agreement” preventing the signing of more black players. The four men below are credited with re-integrating the NFL in 1946.

Who was the first black man to play professional sports? ›

Jackie Robinson - There is no other athlete more associated with the term “breaking the color barrier” than Jackie Robinson, who became the first Black player in major league baseball when he signed on to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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