In Big-Time College Football, It’s Black Players and White Coaches

The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida recently issued a report on the status of African Americans in coaching and management positions at colleges and universities that participate in big-time college football. The report found that in the 2008 season there were only six blacks among the 120 head coaches at the schools that make up the NCAA’s Division I-A. Two of these six black head coaches have been dismissed and will not return to the same universities in 2009.

The report also found that African Americans serve as president of three of the 120 colleges and universities that participate in major college football. There are 11 African Americans who serve as athletics director at these 120 schools.

Blacks make up more than one half of the football players on athletic scholarships at these 120 colleges and universities.

Copyright © 2008. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.