Al Roseboro, a Winston-Salem State University alumnus and the “Voice of the CIAA” was elected to the CIAA Hall of Fame on January 15, 2007.
Roseboro has held the title of “Voice of the CIAA” for more than 30 years. He has announced more than 30 CIAA basketball and football championships. Roseboro was a guard on WSSU’s football team. After graduating, he served as tennis and volleyball coach at WSSU and is still the winningest volleyball coach in school history.
In 1991, Roseboro took over for legendary basketball coach and long-time Athletic Director “Big House” Gaines, serving his alma mater in that capacity for six years. He also served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs before retiring in 2004.
Roseboro’s connection to the CIAA goes way back, even further than his days as a football player at WSSU. A star athlete at West Charlotte High, Roseboro was coached in high school by Jack Martin, an official for the CIAA. While driving with Martin to WSSU for football games, Roseboro met Gaines. Gaines became his mentor and a critical part of his life.
“He was a father figure,” Roseboro said of Gaines, who passed away in April 2005. “Without God and Coach Gaines I would not have been able to do the things that I’ve accomplished.” After meeting Gaines, Roseboro knew WSSU was the place for him.
“From tenth grade on, I knew I was going to be a Ram,” said Roseboro, who was inducted into the C.E. Gaines Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 for meritorious service.
Roseboro also served as’ assistant football coach, and top recruiter for Gaines’ basketball squads. It was Gaines who first dubbed him “Voice of the CIAA,” a title he has had for more than three decades.
Roseboro is happy to have dedicated more than 30 years to WSSU.
“Anytime you can return to your school and have a positive influence, it’s very rewarding,” he said.
Now, Roseboro will join his mentor, as well as fellow Rams such as Earl Monroe and Cleo Hill in the CIAA Hall of Fame. Roseboro acknowledged that it does feel awkward now that Coach Gaines is gone and the Rams have left the conference for Division I and the MEAC.
Roseboro and the five other inductees – Joe Gilliam, Joseph Howell, Leroy Banks, Brigadier General Shelia Baxter, and former WSSU football coach Bill Hayes – will be inducted into the CIAA’s John B. McClendon, Jr. Hall of Fame on Friday, March 2, at the Westin Hotel in Charlotte. Each of the inductees will be acknowledged during the CIAA Basketball Tournament at Bobcats Arena.
NOTE: Hayes coached the Rams for 12 seasons, leading them to three CIAA Championships. He is still the all-time winningest football coach in school history.