Today: Feb 10, 2025

Barber earns Gold Award finalist

Jaylen Carr- Editor-in-Chief

University Hall of Famer and former coach James Barber was announced as one of the 45 NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award finalists.  

The conference award has a male and female recipient, and Barber was chosen as the male representative. Fellow NE10 rival Bentley’s Barbara Stevens, a women’s basketball Head Coach, was named the female recipient.   

In August, NE-10 Conference officials created this award to recognize men and women in sports who had a longstanding and positive impact in Division II.  

“Conference offices reviewed the initial pool of 231 nominated individuals, and each selected two honorees,” according to the NCAA website. “The NCAA Division II Management Council Identity Subcommittee will review these finalists and select the two overall winners, who will be recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in Phoenix.” 

Barber has been part of the university for 58 years. He set hurdling records on the track and field team as a student-athlete. He was also captain and Most Valuable Player, MVP, of the football team.  

He was also an assistant coach on the football and track teams later at the university. In the early 1970s, Barber started the Southern Educational Opportunity Program, which led to minority students receiving a college degree, which still exists today.  

“Each of these finalists in their own way has made a significant impact on Division II,” Vice President of Division II Terri Steeb Gronau said.  

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