CHARLOTTE, NC (June 23, 2025) – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) will officially open the 2025 football season with its annual Football Media Day on Wednesday, July 16, in Durham, North Carolina, the new host city of the CIAA Football Championship.
This year’s Media Day, presented in collaboration with the Durham Sports Commission, will feature all twelve CIAA head football coaches along with two returning student-athletes from each institution. Attendees will preview the upcoming season and share expectations for their programs. The event will also include the release of the Preseason All-CIAA Football Team, the predicted order of finish, and the 2025 television broadcast schedule, followed by media Q&A sessions with coaches and players.
The day will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude with remarks from CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker.
“We’re thrilled to kick off another season of CIAA football with our annual Media Day,” said Commissioner McWilliams Parker. “It’s a time to spotlight our talented student-athletes and coaches, and this year, it’s also an exciting opportunity to celebrate Durham as the new home of our football championship and a vital partner in our continued growth.”
As part of the week’s programming, the CIAA will also host a free youth football clinic for students in grades 3–8 on Tuesday, July 15, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. at Hillside High School in Durham. The clinic will be led by CIAA football coaches and student-athletes. Media are welcome to attend. Participants must register by Monday, July 7. [Register HERE]
Watch Live: The 2025 CIAA Football Media Day will stream live on the CIAA Sports Network (https://theciaasn.com).
Media Credentials: Outlets interested in attending must submit credential requests [HERE] by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 7. Space is limited.
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
For media inquiries, contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications & External Partnerships
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com