College Athletic Powerhouses Making Progress in Racial Equity in Leadership Posts

The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida recently released its annual report on equity in leadership at the 130 colleges and universities that make up the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of Division 1 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. These educational institutions are generally the powerhouses of college athletics.

The report found that of the 130 colleges and universities, there were 31 Black or African-American men and nine Black or African-American women among the 399 campus leadership positions in the fall of 2020. Thus, Blacks made up 10 percent of all campus leadership positions. Nine African Americans were president or chancellor of the 130 members of the FBS schools. This was up from five a year ago.

There were 11 African American men and two African American women who served as athletics director at these 130 colleges and universities. Thus, Blacks made up 10 percent of the athletics directors at these schools.

There were 139 faculty athletic representatives at FBS schools. Nine schools had more than one. Eighteen African Americans served as faculty athletics representatives at these schools, up from 11 two years ago.

Overall, the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport gave these 130 colleges and universities a grade of B- in their efforts to achieve racial diversity in leadership positions. This is up from a grade of D two years ago.

The report also noted that at the start of the 2020 season, 83.8 percent of head football coaches were White men. Thirteen of the 130 head football coaches at these 130 colleges and universities were Black men, down from 15 two years ago. In 2020, Blacks made up 10 percent of all head coaches at these schools. In contrast, African Americans were nearly half of the football athletes at these schools.

The full report, The 2020 Racial and Gender Report Card: D1 FBS Leadership, may be downloaded by clicking here.

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