ATLANTA, Ga. — Morehouse College Director of Athletics Harold Ellis has been named the inaugural Top Mid-Major Athletic Director by Dr. Cavil's Inside the HBCU Sports Lab.
The newly established honor recognizes outstanding leadership among the HBCU athletic directors at NCAA Division II and NAIA historically Black colleges and universities. The award considers championship success, conference-wide athletic excellence, fundraising, facilities, digital platforms, social media presence and the overall growth of an athletics department.
Of the 28 NCAA Division II and 23 NAIA institution, Ellis was among a group of six leading athletic administrators selected as finalists. He becomes the first recipient of the show's mid-major award. Inside the HBCU Sports Lab previously established an Athletic Director of the Year honor for major-division HBCU programs competing at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. The Major award was established five years ago. Ashley Robinson of Jackson State received the Major award for the 2025-26 season last week and has won four of the five awards presented. Kerry Davis of Howard University is the only other athletic director to win the award, receiving the honor for the 2023-24 season.
During his appearance on the show, Ellis described the recognition as the most significant professional honor he has received while quickly directing the credit toward Morehouse's coaches, administrators and support staff.
"This award is not a Harold Ellis award," Ellis said. "At Morehouse, it is a team. There are no individuals. It is a team at Morehouse."
The honor follows one of the most successful athletic years in Morehouse history. The Maroon Tigers captured SIAC championships in cross country, men's indoor track and field, men's basketball and men's outdoor track and field during the 2025–26 academic year.
Morehouse track and field completed the SIAC's championship triple crown by winning the cross country, indoor and outdoor titles. The outdoor championship represented the 51st SIAC title of head coach Willie Hill's career.
Men's basketball also returned to the conference summit under first-year head coach Larry Dixon. The Maroon Tigers won the SIAC East Division, captured their first SIAC Tournament championship since 2003 and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Regional for the first time since 2018.
Those achievements helped Morehouse secure its second consecutive SIAC Men's Commissioner's Cup, recognizing the conference's most successful overall men's athletic program.
Ellis credited Morehouse President Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, the college's senior leadership, coaches, athletics staff, alumni and board members for creating an environment in which the Maroon Tigers could succeed despite operating with fewer resources than many competing institutions.
"We don't have all of the resources, so we have to team up and work together," Ellis said. "That is why we had success this year. Our coaches and our staff have been incredible."
Ellis also acknowledged the growth of the SIAC under Commissioner Dr. Anthony Holloman and said the conference continues to strengthen its competitive standing, visibility and national reputation.
"We have come a long way," Ellis said. "To see where this conference is now is exceptional. I want to give the SIAC and Dr. Holloman credit for that progress."
Building an Athletic Brand Around the Morehouse Mission
Beyond championships, Ellis has worked to align the athletic department's identity with Morehouse College's internationally respected academic reputation and its mission of developing men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership and service.
Ellis said that responsibility requires him to be directly involved in recruiting. He regularly provides campus tours, meets with prospective student-athletes and their families, and explains how the Morehouse experience can influence the decades that follow graduation.
"When you are recruiting a young man, you are not only selling athletics," Ellis said. "You are selling the Morehouse experience. I tell families, 'Give Morehouse four years, and Morehouse will give you 40 years in return.'"
Ellis believes Morehouse offers a proven blueprint for the academic, professional and personal development of African American men. His vision calls for student-athletes to compete for championships while also taking full advantage of the college's alumni network, history and commitment to service.
"Our academic brand sets the standard," Ellis said. "Our responsibility in athletics is to rise to that same level. We want young men who fit the mission, compete at a high level and understand what it means to represent Morehouse College."
Morehouse Is Not Finished
When asked about the future of the department, Ellis said Morehouse intends to build upon its conference success and establish an even stronger national presence.
He described the department's first stages of growth as a period of overcoming criticism and resistance. The next stage, he said, will focus on elevation, national competition and creating additional opportunities for Morehouse student-athletes.
"We have never been this high in athletics, but we are not done," Ellis said. "I want to take it even higher. We have limited resources and limited numbers, but we have one of the best brands in the business."
Ellis also challenged Morehouse's staff and supporters to increase their efforts as the Maroon Tigers pursue additional championships, partnerships, facility improvements and student-athlete programming.
"Morehouse is coming," Ellis said. "Pay attention to the work we are going to do this year and the programs we are going to create for our student-athletes. We are going to double our efforts."
Ellis closed by again emphasizing that the award represents a collective accomplishment.
"I want to thank Morehouse College, our alumni, our board, our coaches, our staff and everyone involved in helping us become successful," Ellis said. "It is all of us working collectively to help our student-athletes become great."
About Dr. Cavil's Inside the HBCU Sports Lab
Dr. Cavil's Inside the HBCU Sports Lab is a sports talk show and podcast dedicated to news, analysis, interviews and in-depth discussions surrounding historically Black college and university athletics. The program features Dr. J. Kenyatta Cavil alongside Charles Bishop, Mike Washington and additional contributors covering the major stories, programs, administrators, coaches and student-athletes shaping HBCU sports.
Dr. Cavil currently serves as interim dean of the College of Education at Texas Southern University, where he is also recognized for his scholarship on HBCU sports culture, leadership and the business of athletics.
A prominent HBCU sports scholar and media voice, Dr. Cavil has more than 20 years of experience covering HBCU athletics. His work includes the long-running Dr. Cavil's Inside the HBCU Huddle Report Top Seven football and basketball rankings, which evaluate major- and mid-major HBCU programs.
The Inside the HBCU Sports Lab podcast has aired for more than a decade and provides a national platform for HBCU sports news, institutional analysis, rankings and conversations with influential figures throughout Black college athletics.
