Trei Oliver says North Carolina Central’s championship expectations haven’t changed

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Trei Oliver says North Carolina Central’s championship expectations haven’t changed

Randall Barnes, ClutchPoints

Tue, Jul 21, 2026 ·

6 min read

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Few HBCU football programs have matched North Carolina Central 's consistency over the past several seasons. Under head coach Trei Oliver, the Eagles have become one of the MEAC's premier programs, highlighted by their dramatic 2022 Cricket Celebration Bowl victory over Deion Sanders and Jackson State.

Since then, North Carolina Central has continued to stack winning seasons, earned an FCS playoff berth in 2023 and established itself as a perennial championship contender. Yet despite that success, one thing has been missing.

Achieving Championship expectations

The Eagles have not returned to the Celebration Bowl since their 2022 championship season, with South Carolina State emerging as the team standing in their way. Now, Oliver is determined to change that.

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Speaking with Dr. Kenyatta Cavil during Inside the HBCU Sports Lab at MEAC Media Day, Oliver made it clear that eight-win seasons are no longer enough for the Eagles.

"The expectations don't change. It's about winning championships. People tell you that you need to be happy with eight wins and all this stuff. Eight wins isn't enough."

He doubled down on that message moments later.

"It's about winning championships. That's what it's about at the end of the day. We spend too much time in this thing not to win it."

Last season's showdown with South Carolina State illustrated just how narrow the gap has become. The Eagles battled the Bulldogs until the final whistle before falling 34-27 in a game that once again had major implications in the MEAC title race.

Oliver praised what Chennis Berry has built in Orangeburg while acknowledging the rivalry has become one of the conference's defining matchups.

"That was a dogfight. That was a heck of a football game. It came down to the wire, and I take my hat off to Coach Berry and his program for what they've been able to do."

Leadership recalibration

Despite another successful season, Oliver believes his team failed to capitalize on opportunities that could have put it back atop the conference.

"I thought we had a good team. We've always had a good team, but I think we kind of lost focus in certain areas."

That started with him.

"I wasn't pleased with our leadership, and that starts at the top with me."

Oliver also felt the Eagles needed stronger leadership from veteran players during difficult moments.

"At times, we could've used a little bit more leadership. Sometimes when you're facing adversity, you've got to lean on some of those older guys and some of those experienced guys. The young guys have got to listen. You've got to be willing to be led."

While North Carolina Central enters 2026 with one of the MEAC's top returning playmakers in Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Chance Peterson, Oliver knows championship teams require more than talent. Throughout his tenure, he has preached one message above all else.

Speaking on The Pivot , Oliver explained why "culture over scheme" has become the foundation of his program.

"My motto at Central is culture over scheme. We're going to talk about culture, culture, culture. The team GPA is over 3.2, kids are in the community, the phone isn't ringing at night with them getting in trouble and all this craziness."

That philosophy extends far beyond football. Oliver believes one of his primary responsibilities as an HBCU coach is preparing his players for life after the game.

"This game has become so transactional now, and for me and the rest of these coaches, it's about nothing but developing young men. We had cooking classes last week, teaching kids how to cook. We took them to a car dealership because so many brothers don't know how to change tires and just how to become a man all the way around."

He added, "We want to win championships, and first and foremost, we're going to graduate young men. But these young men, for them to be great men, great fathers and great husbands, they've got to be able to understand how to survive and how to live. Football is going to end."

Oliver acknowledged that college football has changed dramatically in the transfer portal era, but he doesn't believe North Carolina Central's mission should.

"It's all transactional. It's all about the money. It's all about the business. But as a Black man at an HBCU, it's my responsibility to make sure these kids make it."

Culture is important, but scheme still matters

Still, Oliver knows culture alone won't get the Eagles back to Atlanta. Following the departure of offensive coordinator Matt Leone to Tennessee State , North Carolina Central revamped its coaching staff, hiring Chris Barnette as offensive coordinator and Tommy Thigpen as defensive coordinator.

Oliver believes those additions will allow the Eagles to evolve on the field while maintaining the program's identity.

"The culture is most important, but we can't forget about the scheme…I've got two new coordinators who came in. We had some staff changes and some turnover this offseason. Schematically, on both sides of the ball, we're going to do some things differently, which will help."

He praised both new assistants.

"Chris Barnette came from Alabama State as my offensive coordinator, and Tommy Thigpen came from the University of North Carolina. He was a co-defensive coordinator there under Mack Brown…I'm excited, and I think those two guys have done wonders this offseason."

Taking pride in out-of-conference matchups

For Oliver, however, one rivalry always stands out. Asked during The Pivot which game he looks forward to most each season, he didn't hesitate.

"When I was in school, we didn't go on their campus, and they didn't come on our campus. Respect to my homeboy Gibbs over there. I love him to death. That's my dog. But it's going to go down when we play them."

That matchup, of course, is North Carolina A&T. The Eagles dominated the Aggies 62-20 last season, and Oliver's enthusiasm for the rivalry hasn't faded.

He also embraces opportunities to face Power Conference and other FBS/FCS programs outside the MEAC.

"I love playing PWIs, and I challenge y'all to look at our record against the PWIs. They get that work, too."

Ultimately, Oliver's focus remains fixed on one destination.

"We're going to work our butts off because we've got to get back to Atlanta."

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