Black history month will start this year by making some new history.
For the first time in its 41-year existence, the NFL will have a black coach in the Super Bowl. Both Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts will make their mark as the firsts.
Doug Williams, with the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII, also made a first by becoming the first black quarterback to win a championship. The hype and fascination was so great that one dim-witted reporter asked Williams, “How long have you been a black quarterback?”
Williams was able to change the perception of being a black QB, much in the same way that Dungy has changed being a black coach.
The NFL likes to talk about “coaching trees” with Bill Walsh, Mike Holmgren and Bill Parcells prominently mentioned. Dungy should be added to that list as well. Smith, Herm Edwards, Mike Tomlin and Rod Marinelli all served under Dungy in Tampa Bay. And it just so happens that three of those four are black.
Dungy has been giving black coaches a chance when they didn’t seem to have one. The first black coach in the NFL was Art Shell and that didn’t happen until 1989.
The good ol’ boys club of NFL owners is hard enough to crack as it is. Recently, the so-called “Rooney Rule” went into effect in 2002, requiring all NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for coaching jobs.
While detractors says that the rule parades black coaches just for show, the number of black coaches was a record seven this year and the Pittsburgh Steelers recently hired Tomlin, who was given a chance because of the Rooney Rule.
Fairfield also made history this year, hiring its first ever black head coach in Ed Cooley. He was brought in to resurrect themen’s basketball program, and doesn’t see race as a factor in his job.
“I’m grateful to be here as the first minority head coach,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever gone into a situation where I didn’t feel like I had an opportunity. I’ve always been given a chance.”
Cooley lauded the NFL for trying to give more black coaches a chance.
“It’s a credit to the NFL to try to hire more diverse coaches. It shows that you can’t always listen to the stereotypes,” said Cooley.
However, Cooley was hesitant to praise the Rooney Rule, remarking that, in theory, it had good intentions, but in reality, an owner is going to hire someone he is the most comfortable with.
“It sounds good. But the owners are going to hire who they think is the best fit to help their organization,” he said.
A large proportion of men’s basketball players in Division I are black as well (57.8 percent according to a NCAA survey). However, Cooley doesn’t see being black as an advantage in relating to players.
“I feel I can relate to anyone. That’s more having confidence in yourself [than having to do with race]. I’ve never had a problem communicating,” he said.
Despite the success, there is still need for improvement.
A self-study report for NCAA certification on Fairfield athletics published on October 26, 2006 says, “Diversity among the athletic staff is fairly limited.”
It goes on to say, “It seems clear that greater efforts must be made to recruit diverse candidates into key coaching positions. There are specific forums for minority athletic personnel and it seems imperative that the University use those venues in the future to advertise available positions.”
Yet, there is no doubt that the University and NFL are trying to take steps in the right direction.
It is no longer a matter of “He was hired despite being black,” but now “A new coach was hired.”
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