Southwestern Athletic School History

The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference that has existed since 1920. It comprises historically black colleges and universities from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The SWAC was founded in Birmingham, Alabama, by seven schools: Alabama State University (ASU), Alcorn State University (ASU), Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), Jackson State University (JSU), Southern University at New Orleans(SUNO), Texas College and Tillotson College.

The SWAC has seen its fair share of success throughout the years, with many teams winning championships in various sports, such as football and basketball. In addition to these team successes, there have also been individual athletes who have made their mark on the conference by setting records or being named All-Americans for their respective sport or school year after year. Some notable players include former NFL running back Walter Payton, who attended Jackson State; NBA Hall-of-Famer Willis Reed, who attended Grambling; Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner Kersee from UCLA; Heisman Trophy winner Doug Williams from Grambling; NCAA record holder Stephen F Austin's LaDainian Tomlinson; and current Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott from Mississippi state university.

The history of this esteemed organization dates back to 1920 when it was first established as an African-American college athletics association known as “the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association” before eventually becoming what we know today -the Southwestern Athletic Conference –in 1924. Since then, it has grown into one of the most successful conferences in college athletics, with numerous national titles across multiple sports, including Football, Basketball, Baseball, and softball, amongst others. With such a rich tradition behind it, countless stories & memories make up its illustrious past, which will continue to be celebrated for generations to come!