HBCU Athletic Conference

Shavonna Rhodes joins Talladega College as the Assistant Women's Volleyball Coach, bringing nine years of collegiate coaching experience and a passion for developing student-athletes. Originally from Ohio, Rhodes has served as both an assistant and head coach, helping lead Southeastern Community College to the regional playoffs and a top-five conference finish. She has also coached at Andrew College, led Nike Volleyball Camps, and coached competitive travel volleyball teams.

Rhodes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from John Carroll University and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Training and Development at Cleveland State University. Guided by her coaching philosophy, "Iron Sharpens Iron," she is committed to fostering a culture of growth, accountability, and excellence as the Tornadoes pursue conference success and a national tournament berth.

Welcome to the Storm, Coach Rhodes!

🏆 2025-26 Circle of Champions 🏆

What was your favorite championship??

✅ Men’s Cross Country - Wiley University
✅ Women’s Cross Country - Talladega College
✅ Men’s Soccer - Wiley University
✅ Women’s Soccer - Talladega College
✅ Volleyball - Dillard University
✅ Women’s Basketball - Rust College
✅ Men’s Basketball - Southern University at New Orleans
✅ Softball - Dillard University
✅ Baseball - Talladega College
✅ Women’s Track & Field - Dillard University
✅ Men’s Track & Field - Voorhees University



📸 by (basketball & spring sports) and (soccer & Volleyball). Cross Country by HBCUAC office.

Did you know we have Hall of Famers in our conference?!

L-r: Terrence Whittle - Virginia State University Athletics HOF

Thomas Billups - Tougaloo College Athletics HOF, Vicksburg-Warren School District HOF, Mississippi Association of Coaches HOF

Ed Glover - Voorhees University Athletics HOF

Eric Strothers- Jackson State University Athletics HOF, Southwestern Athletic Conference HOF

Earl Sanders - Jackson State University Athletics HOF, National College Baseball HOF

Mary Hill - Florida A&M University Sports HOF

Dr. Jana Smith - Dillard University Athletics HOF

Melvin “Kerby” Marshall - Shaw University Athletics HOF

Joseph Price - Grant County HOF, Indiana Basketball HOF

During our summer meetings we honored our award winners. It was a great time to celebrate our members and show the world while we are the conference !

We honored four individuals who have shown strong leadership this year as committee chairpersons:
Mariah Yarbrough- Philander Smith University, Volleyball Chair
John Smith- Huston-Tillotson University, Men’s Basketball Chair
Mary Hill- Voorhees University, Senior Women Leaders Chair
Scott Wallace- Fisk University, Sports Information Directors Chair

We then recognized coaches who were also student-athletes in our conference (from its founding to our rebrand l-r):
Derrick Mitchell: Tougaloo College basketball, now coaching MBB at Voorhees
Safia Jenkins: SUNO Track & Field, now coaching T&F at SUNO
Zipporah Washington: SUNO Volleyball, now coaching VB at SUNO
Eric Pilcher: Tougaloo College, now coaching XC at Tougaloo
Mariah Yarbrough: Philander Smith University Volleyball, now coaching Volleyball
Vanae Sapp: Dillard University Volleyball, now coach at Volleyball at Dillard
Desmond Merritt: Philander Smith University Cross Country and Track & Field, now coaching XC & T&F at Philander Smith
Lorena Walker: Philander Smith Basketball, now coaching Women’s Basketball at Philander Smith
Junior Noel: Uni. of Mobile Soccer, now coaching Men’s Soccer at Talladega
Arnissayur Roberts, PhD: Tougaloo College Basketball, now coaching Women’s Basketball at Tougaloo
Kieth Barnes, Sr.: Tougaloo College Basketball, now coaching Women’s Basketball at Tougaloo
Marcos Dominguez: Talladega College Baseball, now coaching Baseball at Talladega



📸

HBCUAC takes on SIAC in Minority Prospects HBCU Final Showdown

📍 Montgomery, AL — Paterson Field
📅 May 15, 2026
⌚️ 6:30 PM Homerun Derby | 7:15 PM Showdown
📺 www.youtube.com/

Best of the SIAC (D2) vs Best of the HBCUAC (NAIA) — The culture on full display.