HAMPTON, Va. (April 8, 2026) … Nearly 100 Hampton University student-athletes and students enrolled in the National Bone Marrow Donor Program in an event sponsored by the Pirate football team. The team partnered with NMDP for the bone marrow registration drive at the Student Center on Tuesday, April 7.
 
Hampton head football coach Van Malone has been active in the Be the Match program for many years. While serving as assistant head coach at Kansas State, Malone earned the Be the Match Champions Award from the Maxwell Football Club for spearheading the Kansas State effort for the Be the Match national bone marrow donor program.

Anyone age 18 to 44 can participate and the process is quick and easy. A simple cheek swab can potentially save someone's life if a match is determined for an individual who is in need of a bone marrow transplant.

The program is sponsored by a non-profit organization run by the National Bone Marrow Program. Be The goal is to locate a donor for every person in need of a bone marrow transplant. Registering to potentially be a donor can help save the life of someone who has been diagnosed with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.