Every college student knows the end of November marks the ending of a semester, which also means grades. The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) released a report card on the hiring of minority football coaches at the Division I level on November 29, which showcased mixed results.
The report shows there were 18 coaches of color at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools in the 2012 season. That number included three African-American coaches and one Polynesian that were hired prior to the season.
At the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, there are nine coaches of color, bringing the total of qualifying coaches of color to 27. These totals exclude FCS coaches employed at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The study found that just six of the 39 hiring searches in the 2011-2012 hiring cycle resulted in the hiring of minority coaches. Texas A&M’s hire of former Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin was the only minority hire out of 12 openings at the FBS level during that period.
The report, Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) Hiring Report for FBS and FCS Football Coaching Positions, was authored by Dr. Richard Lapchick, TIDES director, and funded by the BCA through a grant from the NCAA.
BCA Executive Director Floyd Keith had this to say in his opening statement:
“While the numbers of hires of head coaches of color for Division I schools (excluding historically Black colleges) did not measure up to recent successes, I believe this report has been a shining example of the positive change on the landscape of intercollegiate sport in recent time as it pertains to diversity and inclusion efforts,” he said.
