CIAA Hall of Fame Members
James Battle, former athletics director of Virginia Union University, served the CIAA for 22 years. The 1965 graduate of Fayetteville State University joined Dave Robbins’ basketball staff at Virginia Union in 1979. The Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient became the Panthers athletics director in 1985. Under Battle’s leadership, Virginia Union’s football program captured three CIAA titles while the now legendary Dave Robbins’ men’s basketball programs won eight. During this time, the Panthers won four consecutive basketball crowns (1992-1995). The 1992 team outrivaled the competition and won the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship.