Virginia Union Panthers football

The Virginia Union Panthers football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Virginia Union University located in the U.S. state of Virginia. The team competes at the NCAA Division II levels and are members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). Virginia Union's first football team was fielded in 1899. The team plays its home games at the 10,000 seat Hovey Field in Richmond, Virginia.

Virginia Union Panthers football
2024 Virginia Union Panthers football team
First season	1899; 126 years ago (1899)
Athletic director	Joe Taylor
Head coach	Alvin Parker 6th season, 39–13 (.750)
Stadium	Hovey Field (capacity: 10,000)
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Richmond, Virginia
NCAA division	Division II
Conference	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
All-time record	593–392–50 (.597)
Bowl record	0–2 (.000)
Conference titles	12 CIAA (1917, 1921, 1923, 1973, 1979, 1981–1983, 1986, 2001, 2023, 2024)
Colors	Maroon and gray[1]
Website	vuusports.com/football

Conference affiliations

Virginia Union has played as both an independent and conference-affiliated team.

• Independent (1900–1911)^{[citation needed]}
• Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association / Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1912–present)

Postseason appearances

NCAA Division II

The Panthers have made eleven appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs, with a combined record of 2–11. After ten consecutive losses, VUU won its first playoff game in 2024.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1979	First Round	Delaware	L, 28–58
1980	First Round	North Alabama	L, 8–17
1981	First Round	Shippensburg State	L, 27–40
1982	First Round	North Dakota State	L, 20–21
1983	First Round	North Alabama	L, 14–16
1986	First Round	Troy State	L, 7–31
1990	First Round	Edinboro	L, 14–38
1991	First Round	IUP	L, 7–56
2022	First Round	Wingate	L, 7–32
2023	First Round	Kutztown	L, 15–38
2024	First Round Second Round Quarterfinals	Wingate Lenoir–Rhyne Valdosta State	W, 34–31 OT W, 44–12 L, 14–49

Championships

Conference championships

The Panthers have won twelve conference championships, they had a championship-drought of 22 years between 2001 and their 2023 championship.

Year	Conference	Coach	Overall record	Conference record
1917	Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Wesley A. Daniel	4–0	2–0
1921	Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Harold D. Martin	6–0–2	3–0
1923	Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Harold D. Martin	6–0–1	5–0
1973	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Willard Bailey	9–1	9–0
1979	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Willard Bailey	10–2	8–0
1981	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Willard Bailey	11–1	7–0
1982	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Willard Bailey	8–3	6–1
1983	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Willard Bailey	9–2	6–1
1986	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Joe Taylor	11–1	7–0
2001	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Willard Bailey	8–3	5–1
2023	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Alvin Parker	10–2	7–1
2024	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association	Alvin Parker	10–4	7–1

Divisional championships

The Panthers have won eight division titles, in 1981 through 1983, 1986,1990, 1991 and 2023: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division and in 2001: Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Eastern Division.

Year	Division championship	Opponent	Result
1981	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division	North Carolina Central	W 45–7
1982	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division	North Carolina Central	W 33–26
1983	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division	Winston-Salem State	W 34–7
1986	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division	Winston-Salem State	W 14–7
2001	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Eastern Division	Winston-Salem State	W 31–24
2023	Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Northern Division	Fayetteville State	W 21–10

Notable former players

• Pete Hunter
• Mike Brim
• Malcolm Barnwell
• Tony Leonard
• Herbert Scott
• Bob Jones
• Cornelius Johnson
• Roger Anderson