A chance meeting with a university student seven years ago led to a major change in Howard University’s golf programme. The journey reached a historic moment in 2026, when both the men’s and women’s teams won their conference championships. The Howard Bison women’s golf team won its first-ever Northeast Conference (NEC) championship in April 2026. Just days later, the men’s team secured its third consecutive NEC title. The two victories marked a major achievement for a Division I golf programme that did not exist until NBA superstar Stephen Curry provided six years of financial support. The historic wins also helped Howard University Director of Golf Sam Puryear earn the 2025–2026 HBCU Coach of the Year award, as reported by Howard University’s official publication, The Dig.
Chance meeting on campus
The story behind the championship teams began in early 2019, when Curry visited Howard University’s campus. Otis Ferguson IV, a senior student at Howard and a keen golfer, approached the Golden State Warriors star. He told Curry about his unsuccessful efforts to convince the university to create an official golf team. According to The Dig at Howard University, the university had previously supported a Division II team and several recreational golf clubs. However, it did not have a Division I golf programme. Ferguson’s determination, along with Curry’s recognition that Black student-athletes were underrepresented in college golf, helped inspire the NBA star to take action. In August 2019, Curry promised to fund the launch of both men’s and women’s Division I golf teams for six years. “Golf is a sport that has changed my life in ways that are less tangible, but just as impactful,” Curry said in a statement released by Howard University when the partnership was announced in 2019. “It’s a discipline that challenges your mental wherewithal from patience to focus, and is impossible to truly master, so when you hear about these passionate student-athletes who have the talent but don’t have a fair shot at the game, it’s tough. I feel really honored to play a small role in the rich history of Howard University, and look forward to building their first men’s and women’s golf teams with them.” Curry also brought in corporate partners, including Under Armour and Callaway. These companies provided uniforms, equipment, and technical support to help launch the Bison teams. The teams began competing during the 2020–2021 season.
Breakthrough on the greens
The financial support helped the programme grow quickly under Coach Puryear. He took charge of Howard’s golf operations and worked to build both teams from the ground up. According to tournament coverage by The Dig, the Howard women’s team made history on 21 April 2026 by winning its first-ever NEC Championship. The team was led by Marley Franklin, a graduating student majoring in television and film. Her individual performance played a key role in securing the historic team victory. Six days later, on 27 April 2026, the Howard men’s team also claimed the NEC Championship. The players produced a strong final-round performance to complete their comeback and win their third consecutive conference title. The result further strengthened Howard’s position as a leading team in NEC golf. “We’re showing what’s possible, not just for Howard, but for HBCU programs everywhere,” Puryear told The Dig after the men’s victory. “These young men are competing with confidence, and they’re doing it the right way.”
National impact and HBCU recognition
The golf teams’ success came during a wider period of achievement for Howard University’s sports programme. The university won a total of ten conference championships across different sports during the 2025–2026 academic year, according to Howard Athletics. Puryear’s national recognition as HBCU Coach of the Year also showed the wider impact of Howard’s golf programme. The university has established Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, Maryland, as its official golf facility. The venue provides a place for Howard’s players to train and compete. It also supports junior golf programmes that aim to give more young people access to the sport. Both the men’s and women’s teams went on to represent the Northeast Conference at the 2026 NCAA Regional Tournaments. They competed against some of the top-ranked Division I golf programmes from across the United States.