Division II schools and conferences have submitted a total of 231 nominations for the 50th Anniversary Gold Award. 

This award, which is part of the division’s yearlong 50th anniversary celebration that launched Aug. 7 and will extend through the 2024 Division II Baseball Championship in June, will recognize two individuals (one individual who identifies as male and one who identifies as female) who have made a positive impact in Division II. 

The nominees include current and former student-athletes, coaches, faculty members and administrators from active member schools and conferences who have helped shape Division II over time. “The nominees reflect the considerable impact so many individuals have had on intercollegiate athletics over the years but also the pride the Division II membership demonstrates consistently in providing the experiences that enable young people to make a positive difference in the world,” said Terri Steeb Gronau, vice president of Division II. 

Jacqie McWilliams-Parker | CIAA

Jacqueline (Jacqie) McWilliams was named the Commissioner for the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) in 2012. She became the first female to serve as Commissioner for the CIAA and was the first appointed African-American female Commissioner representing NCAA Division I, II and III. Prior to being named Commissioner for the CIAA, McWilliams spent nine years at the NCAA managing NCAA championships to include both the men’s and women’s Division I Basketball tournaments. She started her career in coaching, compliance and administration at Virginia Union University with career growth opportunities at the CIAA, Norfolk State University and Morgan State University prior to the NCAA.

McWilliams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Hampton University, a Master of Arts in Sports Management and Administration from Temple University. She was two sport athlete at Hampton and was a member of the Hampton University 1988 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship team and Freshmen player of the year in 1988 and Player of the year for CIAA Volleyball in 1990. McWilliams was inducted into the Sierra High School Hall of Fame (2004), Temple University’s Gallery of Success (2006) and Outstanding Alumni (2013), Hampton University Hall of Fame (2018), and Virginia Union University Hall of Fame (2021). She was also selected as a member of the 2013 class for Women in Sports Business Journal Game Changer.

Clyde Doughty, Jr. | Bowie State University

Clyde Doughty, Jr. began his tenure as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Bowie State University (BSU) in January of 2015. In 2018 Doughty was elevated to Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation.  Prior to that he spent 38 years at New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) as a Division II student-athlete and athletic administrator. Clyde earned a scholarship to NYIT.  During his basketball career, the Bears made it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Tournament in 1978 and 1980, losing in the national championship game to Virginia Union in 1980.  After graduating Doughty became the Academic Advisor to student-athletes in 1982.  In 1984, he was appointed as Assistant Director of Athletics, and in 1988, he succeeded Dr. William T. Lai as Director of Athletics and Recreation.
 
Doughty counts among his intercollegiate athletic achievements the enhancing of the NYIT’s athletic department’s organizational structure and stability and improving the academic performances of NYIT’s student-athletes. Upon his departure from NYIT, the athletic department boasted an overall GPA of 3.3. During Doughty’s tenure, the Bears earned numerous appearances in NCAA and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) post-season play. The men’s lacrosse team had captured the NCAA National championship four times, 1997, 2003, 2005 and 2008, the ECAC Championship in 2001 and appeared in the NCAA DII championship game on two other occasions, 1994 and 2002. The men’s basketball team captured the ECAC championship in 1995 and earned a NCAA bid in 2004, while the men’s track and field placed third at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1999 and second at the Indoor Championships in 2001. The men’s soccer program participated in the NCAA tournament in 2003, 2005 (elite 8), 2007 and 2013.  The softball program earned a NCAA regional bid in 2008 while the women’s basketball team earned their first ever NCAA bid in 2013.  The women’s volleyball team made several NCAA tournament appearances; 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011 & 2013. The men’s and women’s tennis team earned NCAA DII appearances in 2013 with both programs advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2013.

LaTaya Hilliard-Gray | Winston-Salem State University/Elizabeth City State University

A 2000 graduate of Hampton University with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management.  LaTaya was a 2-sport student-athlete, playing four years of volleyball as a scholarship recipient and one year of softball. She earned a Master of Science in Adult Education with a concentration in Human Resource Development from North Carolina A&T State University. She is a member of National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A), Women Leaders in College Sports, and Minority Opportunities for Athletic Administrators (MOAA)?

As a coach, she has established a championship culture at WSSU. The softball program secured five CIAA championships titles; 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. Under, LaTaya’s leadership, WSSU was the first CIAA softball program to enter NCAA Atlantic Region Playoffs as the #7 seed and won in the first round of play making history for the conference and university. She was named CIAA Softball Coach of The Year in 2004, 2011, and 2012. She also received NCAA Division I-Independent Coach of the Year in 2010 during WSSU’s D-I transition. Hilliard-Gray most recently served as Associate Director of Athletics/SWA/Head Softball Coach at Winston-Salem State University, where she played a pivotal role in the leadership within the athletics department.  She currently is the Deputy Athletic Director/SWA/Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Elizabeth City State.


Carolyn Anderson | Winston-Salem State University

A known advocate for students and student-athletes, Dr. Anderson was an easy nomination. Having earned a degree in mathematics from Appalachian, Anderson became the university's first African-American, full-time faculty member. She taught in the Department of Mathematics. Anderson held faculty or administrative posts at Livingstone College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College before retiring as associate director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Winston-Salem State University. She is a member of the HORN$ and gives annually to the Department of Athletics.


Clarence E. Gaines | Winston-Salem State University

Clarence E. Gaines became the head football and basketball coach, athletic director, trainer, and ticket manager. Gaines coached football from 1946-1949. In 1948 Gaines was named CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) "Football Coach of the Year" after leading the RAMS to an 8-1 season. Beginning in 1949 Gaines only coached basketball and served as athletic director. In 1950 Gaines received his master's degree in education from Columbia University. Due to his proficiency as an athletic coach, teacher and humanitarian, Gaines has received numerous awards: CIAA Basketball Tournament Outstanding Coach Award; 1953, 57, 60, 61, 63, 66, 70, 77; CIAA Hall of Fame Inductee, 1975; NAIA Helms Hall of Fame Inductee, 1968; N.C. Sports Hall of Fame, 1978; CIAA Basketball Coach of the Year, 1957, 61, 63, 70, 75, 80; NAIA District 26 Outstanding Coach Award, 1975-78; Paul Robeson Award, 1980; Winston-Salem Urban League Family of the Year Award, 1973; Order of the Long Leaf Pine (N.C.); and the Silver Buffalo Award (Boy Scouts of America), etc.
 

“The quality of nominees will certainly make it challenging for the Division II Identity Subcommittee to recommend just two Gold Award recipients,” Steeb Gronau said. “It truly is eye-opening to read through the candidates’ accomplishments and realize how their contributions have made us better as a division.”

As part of the anniversary celebration, Division II also will provide a commemorative scholarship opportunity for student-athletes from active member schools who exhibit the core values of Division II and have not yet exhausted their athletics eligibility. Two recipients from each conference and two representing the independent institutions will be announced in May during the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championships Festival in Orlando, Florida. Nomination procedures for the scholarship will be announced to the Division II membership in January.

To learn more about Division II’s 50th anniversary celebration, visit ncaa.org/dii50. 
 
50th Anniversary Gold Award nominees

Name	School	Conference
Jacqueline McWilliams		Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Clyde Doughty Jr.	Bowie State University	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
LaTaya Hilliard-Gray	Elizabeth City State University	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Carolyn Anderson	Winston-Salem State University	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Clarence E. Gaines	Winston-Salem State University	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association