GREENSBORO – The Department of Athletics at North Carolina A&T is thrilled with the induction of former running back Tarik Cohen and former women's basketball coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame.

Both individuals were instrumental in resurrecting those respective programs as Cohen dominated on the field and Bibbs patrolled the sideline at A&T. Bibbs will also enter the MEAC Hall for her time as the head women's basketball coach at Hampton University.

"When you discuss Tarik Cohen and coach Patricia Cage-Bibbs and their contributions to North Carolina A&T State University, you're talking about two transcendent figures," said A&T Director of Athletics Earl M. Hilton III. "Tarik is the most decorated football player in our school's history, and coach Bibbs is a pioneer in women's basketball.

She had tremendous success at three different schools, but A&T will forever be grateful for what she did for the A&T women's basketball program, turning it into a consistent winner. These are two well-deserved recognitions."

Bibbs coached at Hampton University from 1997-04. She went 127-83 overall and 95-31 in MEAC play at Hampton, winning four regular-season championships and three MEAC tournament titles. She won MEAC coach of the year following the 1997-98 season.

She then stepped into one of the biggest challenges of her career in 2005 when she became the head women's basketball coach at A&T. The Aggies only had 72 wins in the previous 10 seasons before she arrived.

In her seven seasons in Aggieland, Bibbs compiled 130 wins, a .596 winning percentage, won three MEAC regular-season titles, one conference tournament title, and reached the WNIT twice and the NCAA tournament once. During the 2009-10 season, the Aggies became the first women's HBCU program to advance twice in an NCAA-sanctioned Division I postseason tournament. They reached the Super 16 by defeating Wake Forest and Charlotte.

The 2008-09 Aggies won the MEAC tournament title and earned a No. 14 seed in the NCAA tournament. It was the highest seed ever given to an HBCU at the time. The 2008-09 team also shattered the school record for single-season wins by going 26-7. The record still stands today. She also secured her 500th career coaching victory during her time at A&T. 

Bibbs coached two North Carolina A&T Sports Hall of Famers, Amber Bland and Brittanie Taylor-James. In addition, her associate head coach from 2005-09, Tarrell Robinson, took over for Bibbs before the 2012-13 season and eventually became the program's all-time winningest coach.

"I have been blessed to coach at two major MEAC universities, Hampton and North Carolina A&T," said Bibbs, who is also a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hall of Fame for her success at her alma mater, Grambling State University. "On that journey, I have mentored and coached talented young ladies and witnessed loyal fans. For that, I am grateful. Sometimes in life, honors are delayed but not denied."

Cohen became an Aggie in 2013, and by the end of his collegiate career in 2016, he was one of the most recognizable players in the nation thanks to his outstanding play, his social media following, and his television appearances on such outlets as ESPN SportsCenter and NFL Network.

Cohen's national recognition started in 2015 when, as a junior, he rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in the first-ever Celebration Bowl. The game aired live on ABC as the Aggies defeated Alcorn State for the black college national title, and Cohen took away offensive MVP honors.

Cohen is the only player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in all four seasons. He eventually became the all-time leading rusher at A&T and in the MEAC with 5,619 yards. He also holds the program record for total touchdowns (59), rushing touchdowns (56), and total carries (868).

A&T won MEAC titles in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, the Aggies reached the NCAA Division I-FCS playoffs. He is the only player in MEAC history with three MEAC offensive player of the year awards. In addition, he earned MEAC rookie of the year in 2013. Cohen was a four-time All-MEAC selection, a three-time FCS STATS third-team All-American, and a BOXTOROW All-American.

In 2015, he was named the SBN/Williams Offensive Player of the Year and earned FCS Fabulous Fifty All-American accolades. The following year, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) made him a second-team FCS All-American, and Walter Camp named him a first-team All-American. He was also the 2016 Deacon Jones Trophy recipient.

The Chicago Bears drafted Cohen in 2017 as a fourth-round pick. In 2018, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and became an NFL All-Pro as a punt returner.