Kansas State University Athletics

K-State Black History

Veryl Switzer

Ahead of Its Time: Breaking the Color Barrier

Harold Robinson

Harold Robinson (1949-50) 

The first Black scholarship athlete in the Big 7 Conference. Robinson was a 2004 inductee to the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame. Robinson earned All-Big 7 First Team honors in 1950.

Hoyt Givens

Hoyt Givens (1949-50) 

The first Black non-scholarship football player in the Big Six Conference. Joined Harold Robinson as the first two Black athletes to compete in an event at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

 
Earl Woods

Earl Woods (1951-53) 

Attended K-State where he would go on to break the Big 7 Conference color barrier in 1951 by becoming the first Black baseball player in Big 7 history. Earl Woods went on to earn a varsity letter in both 1952 and 1953. Was offered a contract by the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, but turned it down to finish his degree.

Veryl Switzer

Veryl Switzer (1951-53) 

First Black scholarship student-athlete to graduate from K-State. Held career punt return record until 1995 and scored the second longest punt return in school history. Drafted 4th overall by the Green Bay Packers in first round of the 1954 NFL Draft.

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Gene Wilson (1951-52) 

K-State’s first Black scholarship basketball player. Broke the Big 7 Conference color barrier along with LaVannes Squires of Kansas by becoming the first Black scholarship basketball athletes in the Big 7.

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Dave Baker (1978-83) 

In 1978, K-State Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds called Baker back home to coach the Wildcats. Dave Baker became the first Black Head Baseball Coach at a Big 8 Conference institution. To this day, Dave Baker is the only Black coach to have been a Head Baseball Coach in K-State history, as well as Big 8 (and Big 12) history.  Baker guided the Wildcats to 137 wins from 1978 to 1983. Baker would go on to coach at Oral Roberts University and Bacone College.

Priscilla Gary-Sweeney

Priscilla Gary (1982-83) 

The first female student-athlete inducted into the K-State Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, Gary was also the first black female to be named an All-American as she was a 1982 and 1983 selection in women's basketball. Inducted into the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.

Ron Prince

Ron Prince (2006-08) 

In 2006 Ron Prince was named Head Football Coach at K-State. Coach Prince made history by becoming K-State’s first and only Black Head Football Coach, as well as the first Black Head Football Coach in the Big 12 Conference. Guided the Wildcats to a Bowl Game appearance in his first season.

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Jordan Smith (2015-Present) 

After helping rebuild K-State during three years as an assistant coach, including the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2003 and march to the Round of 32, Jordan Smith was selected to lead the women's tennis program in the summer of 2018 and became K-State's first Black Head Tennis Coach. 
Jerome Tang

Jerome Tang (2022-Present) 

In 2022 Jerome Tang was selected as the 25th head men's basketball coach at Kansas State. He stands as the first Black men's head basketball coach in school history and just the fifth minority men's head coach in school history.

K-State Pioneers

Historically, Black athletes at K-State were responsible for breaking the modern “color barrier” in the Big 7 Athletics Conference. Paving the way for future Black athletes, coaches and administrators in the Big 8 and Big 12.

  • Harold Robinson (Football)
  • Hoyt Givens (Football)
  • Veryl Switzer (Football)
  • Earl Woods (Baseball)
  • Gene Wilson (Men's Basketball)
  • Dave Baker (Head Baseball Coach)
  • Priscilla Gary (Women's Basketball)
  • Darryl Winston (Men's Basketball)
  • Ron Prince (Head Football Coach)
  • Coach Mo Latimore (Assistant Football Coach)
  • Dr. Be Stoney (Faculty Athletics Representative)
  • Jordan Smith (Head Tennis Coach)
  • Jerome Tang (Head Men's Basketball)