Location Winston-Salem, NC Arena LJVM Coliseum Annex | Nickname Rams Head coach James Wilhelmi | |
University Winston-Salem State University Conference Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Colors Red, White, FF0000, FFFFFF | ||
The Winston-Salem State Rams men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. The school's team currently competes in the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Winston-Salem State competed in Division I from the 2007–08 season to the 2009–10 season as a transitional member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC); it returned to Division II in 2010 for financial reasons.
Among its coaches was noted Clarence "Bighouse" Gaines (1923-2005): during his 47-year tenure at WSSU as coach, professor and athletic director, his men's basketball team compiled a record of 828-447. Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. Noted players under Gaines' era were Earl Monroe; Cleo Hill, the first African-American from an historically Black college and university to be drafted #1 by the National Basketball Association (St. Louis Hawks, 1961); and sports commentator and columnist Stephen A. Smith.