Winston-Salem State has been a continuous member of the CIAA since 1945, with the exception of a three-year hiatus between 2007 and 2010 when they competed provisionally at the Division I level with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Financial difficulties, however, prevented the Rams from beginning full membership and they returned to the CIAA and Division II.

They were led by high-scoring guard Earl Monroe, who averaged an amazing 41.5 points per game that season before being selected second overall in the 1967 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards).

Despite only being the first year of the program, the baseball team managed to win the CIAA Conference Championship and move on to the Atlantic Regional.

Winston-Salem State played in the 2012 Division II National Championship football game on December 15, 2012.