Program History
The Black Coaches Classic grew out of a concern for the underrepresentation of Black leaders in coaching and in the administrative ranks of scholastic and collegiate athletics. Bob Hohler wrote in the Boston Globe on August 22, 2020, that, "The lack of Black leaders in New England college sports is what institutional and systemic racism looks like".
The Black Coaches Classic seeks to provide resources and support for coaches, game officials and administrators. Programming happens in three phases, youth engagement, coaches recognition, and community enrichment. We produce a basketball coaches clinic, complete workshop style for community enrichment, . We recognize decorated coaches at our basketball invitational. We continue to engage youth in the summer and other out-of-school programs side by side with partner programs.
About the Legends Hall of Fame
The Legends Hall of Fame is a virtual billboard celebrating the effort of local, veteran coaches and administrators who have made significant contribution to community and also has achievements as leaders in athletics. Nominees for the Legends Hall of Fame must meet the following criteria: 1) Must have been a high school or collegiate coach in New England; 2) Must be retired; 3) Must have demonstrated a high level of character, teamwork, integrity, ability, sportsmanship, perseverance and a willingness to mentor those behind you.
In 2020, we inducted Alfreda Harris and Charlie Titus into the Legends hall of Fame at the 1st Black Coaches Classic on January 26, 2020 (#RipKobe).
Charlie Titus is the retired Vice Chancellor for Athletics, Recreation, Special Projects & Programs at Umass Boston. He has been the face of the University of Massachusetts Boston athletics program for over three decades. Having served as UMass Boston’s first Director of Athletics, Titus helped launch the UMass Boston athletics program, which over the years has attained tremendous success, including multiple national, regional, and conference championships. He was inducted into the Little East Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, the Bay State Games Hall of Fame and the Umass Boston Athletics Hall of Fame.
Alfreda Harris is a lifetime resident of Roxbury; she is the founder and former Administrative Coordinator of the Shelburne Recreation Center and the former women's basketball coach at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Roxbury Community College, and Emerson College. Harris was also the longest-serving member of the Boston School Committee. Harris was awarded the Mannie Jackson award for her values of the game: hard work, striving to improve the community, and making a commitment to others. She was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 2022, we inducted Dennis Wilson and Harry Wilson (posthumously). Dennis and Harry Wilson are co-founders of the Roxbury Raiders Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading program.
The Raider Program has been used as a vehicle to reach and positively influence the lives of youth in the Boston community for over 45 years. They are also responsible for the Roxbury Basketball Association (RBA), which came to be known as one of the more popular pro-am destinations for professional basketball players of its time. Dennis Wilson worked in the Boston Public School system for thirty years, teaching history, serving as dean of discipline, and coaching basketball. He was named Massachusetts Division 1 Coach of the Year three times and has hosted and co-produced his own cable television sports show.
Dennis is one of the few Massachusetts high school coaches to amass 400 wins in his career. Madison Park Vocational Tech honored him in 2020 by naming its main gymnasium floor in his honor. In retirement, Dennis has found success in film development, producing the documentary, "Push: Madison Versus Madison'' in 2011, the story of a dysfunctional but talented high school hoops team trying to hold itself together” and "This ain't normal" in 2018, a documentary humanizing the story of gang involved youth, entangled in inner city violence and the StreetSafe social workers that supported them.
In 2024, we inducted Dr. Albert Holland, a veteran educator of the Boston Public Schools, Roscoe Baker, organizer of the original Boston Shootout; and Bill Raynor, former Division 1 Head Coach and Collegiate Athletic Director.
Bill Raynor was the head Men's Basketball Coach at Framingham State. He spent 12 seasons as the Director of Athletics and Head Coach at MassBay Community College. While at MassBay, Raynor led the Buccaneers to the NJCAA New England Region XXI Championship in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2017 and was named the National District XIII Coach of the Year (NJCAA) after each of those titles. Raynor’s collegiate coaching experience also includes a stint at Holy Cross between 1994-1999 where he served as both the head coach and as an assistant coach. Raynor was also an assistant coach at Brown University and Harvard University. Raynor has received several awards during his coaching career, including being inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and being inducted into the Brown University Hall of Fame in 2009. Raynor received the Spirit of MassBay Award in 2011 and was the commencement speaker at MassBay's graduation in 2015.
Roscoe Baker is an organizer of the original Boston Shootout, and Director & Board Member of the Roxbury Boys & Girls Club. In 1971, NBA referee Ken Hudson, Rudy Cabral, and Roxbury Clubhouse board members Roscoe Baker and “Jeep” Jones organized the Boston Shootout to showcase the city’s best to the rest of the hoops world. The Boston first squad featured some of basketball’s best-kept secrets, including King Gaskins of Catholic Memorial, Carlton Smith of English High, Lexington High’s Ronnie Lee (Russell’s brother), “Smooth” Bobby Carrington of Archbishop Williams, Billy Collins of Don Bosco, and Wil Morrison of Tech High.
Dr. Albert Holland is a veteran educator who worked for Boston Public Schools (BPS) for over 30 years. He started working for BPS in 1977 and held various high-level positions, including: principal, headmaster, executive director, and assistant to the chief of staff. Holland also worked as a consultant for BPS in 1975. While working as an administrator at South Boston High School, he worked on problems in desegregation, violence, and fighting back against assaults. Holland was the lead singer of a letter from 15 retired BPS educators. The letter, sent to Skipper on August 24, said that Black and brown central office leaders are targeted if they speak up against racist practices and try to promote equity. Holland was tapped by Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang to help deal with allegations of racism at Boston Latin School. Albert Holland was a former principal of Burke High School from 1982 to 1993. Burke alumni are actively petitioning to name the school in his honor.
The Legends Hall of Fame is a virtual billboard celebrating the effort of local, veteran coaches and administrators who have made significant contribution to community and also has achievements as leaders in athletics. Nominees for the Legends Hall of Fame must meet the following criteria: 1) Must have been a high school or collegiate coach in New England; 2) Must be retired; 3) Must have demonstrated a high level of character, teamwork, integrity, ability, sportsmanship, perseverance and a willingness to mentor those behind you.
In 2020, we inducted Alfreda Harris and Charlie Titus into the Legends hall of Fame at the 1st Black Coaches Classic on January 26, 2020 (#RipKobe).
Charlie Titus is the retired Vice Chancellor for Athletics, Recreation, Special Projects & Programs at Umass Boston. He has been the face of the University of Massachusetts Boston athletics program for over three decades. Having served as UMass Boston’s first Director of Athletics, Titus helped launch the UMass Boston athletics program, which over the years has attained tremendous success, including multiple national, regional, and conference championships. He was inducted into the Little East Hall of Fame, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, the Bay State Games Hall of Fame and the Umass Boston Athletics Hall of Fame.
Alfreda Harris is a lifetime resident of Roxbury; she is the founder and former Administrative Coordinator of the Shelburne Recreation Center and the former women's basketball coach at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Roxbury Community College, and Emerson College. Harris was also the longest-serving member of the Boston School Committee. Harris was awarded the Mannie Jackson award for her values of the game: hard work, striving to improve the community, and making a commitment to others. She was also inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
In 2022, we inducted Dennis Wilson and Harry Wilson (posthumously). Dennis and Harry Wilson are co-founders of the Roxbury Raiders Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading program.
The Raider Program has been used as a vehicle to reach and positively influence the lives of youth in the Boston community for over 45 years. They are also responsible for the Roxbury Basketball Association (RBA), which came to be known as one of the more popular pro-am destinations for professional basketball players of its time. Dennis Wilson worked in the Boston Public School system for thirty years, teaching history, serving as dean of discipline, and coaching basketball. He was named Massachusetts Division 1 Coach of the Year three times and has hosted and co-produced his own cable television sports show.
Dennis is one of the few Massachusetts high school coaches to amass 400 wins in his career. Madison Park Vocational Tech honored him in 2020 by naming its main gymnasium floor in his honor. In retirement, Dennis has found success in film development, producing the documentary, "Push: Madison Versus Madison'' in 2011, the story of a dysfunctional but talented high school hoops team trying to hold itself together” and "This ain't normal" in 2018, a documentary humanizing the story of gang involved youth, entangled in inner city violence and the StreetSafe social workers that supported them.
In 2024, we inducted Dr. Albert Holland, a veteran educator of the Boston Public Schools, Roscoe Baker, organizer of the original Boston Shootout; and Bill Raynor, former Division 1 Head Coach and Collegiate Athletic Director.
Bill Raynor was the head Men's Basketball Coach at Framingham State. He spent 12 seasons as the Director of Athletics and Head Coach at MassBay Community College. While at MassBay, Raynor led the Buccaneers to the NJCAA New England Region XXI Championship in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2017 and was named the National District XIII Coach of the Year (NJCAA) after each of those titles. Raynor’s collegiate coaching experience also includes a stint at Holy Cross between 1994-1999 where he served as both the head coach and as an assistant coach. Raynor was also an assistant coach at Brown University and Harvard University. Raynor has received several awards during his coaching career, including being inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and being inducted into the Brown University Hall of Fame in 2009. Raynor received the Spirit of MassBay Award in 2011 and was the commencement speaker at MassBay's graduation in 2015.
Roscoe Baker is an organizer of the original Boston Shootout, and Director & Board Member of the Roxbury Boys & Girls Club. In 1971, NBA referee Ken Hudson, Rudy Cabral, and Roxbury Clubhouse board members Roscoe Baker and “Jeep” Jones organized the Boston Shootout to showcase the city’s best to the rest of the hoops world. The Boston first squad featured some of basketball’s best-kept secrets, including King Gaskins of Catholic Memorial, Carlton Smith of English High, Lexington High’s Ronnie Lee (Russell’s brother), “Smooth” Bobby Carrington of Archbishop Williams, Billy Collins of Don Bosco, and Wil Morrison of Tech High.
Dr. Albert Holland is a veteran educator who worked for Boston Public Schools (BPS) for over 30 years. He started working for BPS in 1977 and held various high-level positions, including: principal, headmaster, executive director, and assistant to the chief of staff. Holland also worked as a consultant for BPS in 1975. While working as an administrator at South Boston High School, he worked on problems in desegregation, violence, and fighting back against assaults. Holland was the lead singer of a letter from 15 retired BPS educators. The letter, sent to Skipper on August 24, said that Black and brown central office leaders are targeted if they speak up against racist practices and try to promote equity. Holland was tapped by Schools Superintendent Tommy Chang to help deal with allegations of racism at Boston Latin School. Albert Holland was a former principal of Burke High School from 1982 to 1993. Burke alumni are actively petitioning to name the school in his honor.
Community Resources
Established in 2003 as a grass-roots organization devoted to the community, Roulhac Enterprises continues to engage the community in ways that meet individuals where they are. We began outreach by providing resources and information to the community. We shared resources, including job listings and athletic recreation and wellness opportunities. Today, information and resources related to the previously listed, in addition to social justice concerns, job readiness tools and information, education and training, and mental health services, are housed on our social media platforms.
