It started with a student named Otis Ferguson IV, who stopped an NBA superstar on campus seven years ago. That casual conversation in early 2019 changed the trajectory of Howard University’s athletics. Stephen Curry, recognizing the lack of Division I golf opportunities for Black student-athletes, pledged six years of funding. It wasn’t just money; it was a lifeline for a program that didn’t exist. By August 2019, the promise was real. Curry brought in Under Armour and Callaway, turning a dream into a competitive reality for the Bison.
The fruits of that labor finally ripened in April 2026. On April 21, the Howard women’s team did something no one had done before: they won the Northeast Conference championship. Marley Franklin, a graduating student in television and film, was the engine of that victory. Her individual performance wasn’t just good; it was historic. Six days later, on April 27, the men’s team followed suit. They didn’t just win; they completed a comeback in the final round to secure their third consecutive NEC title. For a program built from scratch, back-to-back conference titles in the same month is absurdly impressive.
Director of Golf Sam Puryear didn’t just build teams; he built a legacy. The 2025–2026 HBCU Coach of the Year award is a stark reminder of the work behind the wins. But the numbers tell the broader story. Howard University won ten conference championships across all sports this academic year. Puryear’s program is the heartbeat of that resurgence. "We're showing what's possible, not just for Howard, but for HBCU programs everywhere," he told The Dig. The confidence isn’t arrogance; it’s earned on the greens at Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The conference titles are a flag planted, but the real test is next. Both the men’s and women’s teams have earned berths in the 2026 NCAA Regional Tournaments. They will face the established giants of Division I golf. For Curry, this is the moment his investment proves its worth. The Bison are no longer newcomers to the conversation; they are contenders.