More than a dozen historically black college and university marching band programs have entered the 2026 season with newly assigned directors or interim leadership, creating significant movement across Division I and Division II levels. HBCU Gameday reported that these changes bring new sounds and familiar faces to institutions where educators often return as alumni or former assistants to lead the ensembles they once joined as students.
Florida Memorial University elevated assistant Brian Snell, a Florida A&M graduate, while Virginia Union University hired alumnus Andrew Miles from a local high school. Tuskegee University selected Dr. Warren Williams, an Alabama State graduate formerly at Carver High School, and Allen University hired Jovan Milford, a Benedict College alumnus. Edward Waters University chose South Carolina State graduate Marques Graham, illustrating how interconnected the HBCU band world remains as directors frequently compete against former classmates.
Additional appointments include Cedric Todd at Arkansas Baptist University and Thomas Williams Gibson at Texas College, both Southern University graduates. Jarvis Christian University hired Grambling State alumnus Michael Bradley, while Lane College selected Charles Conner, a Fayetteville State graduate. Major programs also saw shifts, with North Carolina A&T naming interim director Aaron Campbell and Mississippi Valley State promoting alumnus Kevin Webb. Dr. Derrick Smith returns to his alma mater, Alabama State University, after working at the University of Alabama, and William Young takes leadership at Alabama A&M following a tenure at Southern University. These educators now face the dual responsibility of protecting established traditions while recruiting students and developing musicians for increasingly visible national stages.
For more information, visit hbcugameday.com.