Race in Sports: The Underrepresentation of Black Head Coaches Larryisa Thomas, Marco Robinson, Ph.D Division of Social Work, Behavioral and Political Sciences, Prairie View A&M University
Abstract For over 100 years of existence sports has been played across the world. Sports and the unwanted conversations that surround it are beginning to take place in the route that America is heading towards. One popular discussion that takes place in the world of sports is the underrepresentation of black head coaches, and the disadvantage it places among the black community. The proposed research will demonstrate the comparison of black and white coaches throughout the collegiate and professional level and conclude the main factor of why there is a lack of black head coaches in sports. Introduction Colorblindness is a word that sports world would like nothing more than to disassociate itself with. Unfortunately it’s a term that holds a great amount of power on and off the field. White head coaches at both the collegiate and professional level are nothing to spark a conversation over. The difficulty of understanding why there are not more black coaches is the conversation that is not held enough. Black coaches that are granted the opportunity to be a head coach rather than an offensive coordinator have to prove themselves twice as much compared to their white counterpart. If black coaches are awarded the position of head coach, they have a small time frame to prove themselves, if not, there will soon be a press conference introducing a new coach. (Agyemang, K. & DeLorme, J. 2010)
Results The results that follow is that white privilege is not only visible off the field, but surely on the field. Coaching is designed for a white man. You can witness this in women sports also. Black coaches are only good enough to hold offensive and defensive coordinator positions, rather than leading a team, thus incorporating a culture the university may not be accustomed to. A prime example of this is Charlie Strong’s short career at the University of Texas, who did not hire their first black coach until 2014. Black coaches have been proven to have to work twice as hard just to produce the equal work of white coaches. The above chart shows the percentage of black coaches in the league through various time periods. Soiurce: https://aaregistry.org/story/nfl-levies-fine-over-rooney-rule/
Literature Review/ Relevant Theories The main themes that will be represented are: the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule, the lack of black head coaches and the early dismissal of the few black head coaches, the “slave- owner mentality, and the social identity threat among black players and coaches. Social Dominance Theory The Social Dominance Theory is applicable to sports in the discussion of race and the relationship to head coaches. It examines how the positions of head coaching, Athletic Directors, general managers, and owners are placed within the dominant group of belonging to the white race. These positions can only be led by a white men. Social Identity Threat When a black coach is given the opportunity to coach, they are micromanaged and expected to have a losing record, or any little mess up just to be given a reason of termination. With this theory in play, a black coach is expected to act a certain way, thus resulting in a social identity threat that can be placed among them. They have to fit into an image or refrain from using their words to fit a certain image to keep their job.
Conclusion/Discussion Giving black head coaches the same opportunity to obtain head coaching positions is important to the future of sports. It is also important to point out that black coaches need to be granted the same time frames to prove themselves with their new teams. The 2003 Rooney Rule has been effective in coaching and general positions but that rule is only pertaining to the NFL. The collegiate level of sports have yet to make a great ideal of change in regards to their head coaches and Athletic Directors. Research finds that black and white coaches have similar coaching records but black coaches are fired in a quicker time period than any other coaches. It is a known notion that the NCAA and the NFL have some work to due in regards to hiring more black coaches for leagues that hold a greater percentage of black athletes than any other race of athletes.
References Lack Of Black Coaches Seen In America’s College Football Ranks. (2001). Jet, 99(6), 52. Agyemang, K., & DeLorme, J. (2010). Examining the Dearth of Black Head Coaches at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Level: A Critical Race Theory and Social Dominance Theory Analysis. Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics, 35 Madden, J. F., & Ruther, M. (n.d.). Has the NFL’s Rooney Rule Efforts “’Leveled the Field”’ for African American Head Coach Candidates? JOURNAL OF SPORTS ECONOMICS, 12(2), 127–142. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527002510379641 NFL levies fine over "Rooney Rule." (n.d.). Retrieved from https://aaregistry.org/story/nfl-levies-fine-over-rooney-rule/ Barnett, Z. (2016, December 19). Tony Dungy explains the unintended benefit of the Rooney Rule. Retrieved from http://footballscoop.com/news/tony-dungy-explainsunintended-benefit-rooney-rule
Acknowledgements R&I’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR and Division of Social Work,, Prairie View A&M University. 61
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