Spotlighting HBCU Player Development: Darian Iverson of NCCU
North Carolina Central is winning on the field — and off it, thanks to leaders like Darian Iverson
College football’s opening weekend just wrapped up, and one of the nationally televised matchups was the MEAC–SWAC Challenge — where North Carolina Central defeated Southern. Watching that game hit differently for me. Earlier this summer, when I was in Durham, I sat down with Darian Iverson, the Player Development Coordinator at NCCU, to talk about the work he’s doing to enhance the lives of athletes beyond the field.
That victory on national TV is proof of NCCU’s winning ways as a program. But behind the scenes, leaders like Darian are doing the work that doesn’t show up in a box score. He’s one of the few voices building structured player development in the HBCU space.
In our conversation, he shared:
How NCCU recruits high-character athletes to build culture.
Why athletes at resource-limited programs are often the most appreciative of development opportunities.
The role of alumni and community in bridging resource gaps.
Player development at HBCUs is real, intentional, and powerful. Schools like NCCU are proving you don’t need a Power 5 budget to change lives.
Wins like the one over Southern are special. But the real victory is in the character, gratitude, and community impact cultivated by leaders like Darian Iverson.
👉🏾 Watch our conversation here:
🏆 Build something that lasts.
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