NCAA CONVENTION Minority coaching issue is addressed

Establishment of an academy/mentor program is a start.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Addressing the glaring lack of minorities in college football head coaching jobs, the NCAA plans to establish two new development programs.
The NCAA Division I board of directors approved funding on Monday for a "coaches' academy" and a mentor program.
Only four blacks are among the 117 head coaches in Division I-A football, and there have been just 18 black coaches to head major college football programs.
Gets approval
"The board approved going forward with the idea of an NCAA coaches academy that would be designed to create workshops for ethnic minority football coaches at all levels and in all divisions," said Bob Hemenway, University of Kansas chancellor and chairman of the Division I board of directors.
"We've had discussions with, and look forward to working with, the American Football Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association on this coaching academy. There is similar interest in those organizations in increasing the number of minority football coaches in this country. We think it's a serious matter."
The board approved a $180,000 total allocation to set up the two programs, which will focus on assistant coaches.
An NCAA study last year showed that 21.2 percent of assistants and 16.6 percent of graduate assistants are black, and in Division I-AA, there are no black head coaches when historically black institutions are excluded.
Tyrone Willingham at Notre Dame, San Jose State's Fitz Hill, New Mexico State's Tony Samuel and UCLA's recently hired Karl Dorrell are the only black coaches to head Division I-A football programs.
"Every college coach can find the best minority halfback, the best fullback, the best quarterback. You tell me why they can't find the best minority coach?" Eugene Marshall, chairman of the NCAA minorities opportunities committee, said recently.
Skills targeted
The academy will focus on developing such skills as job interview preparation, resume building, networking, and media and booster relations.
The mentor program and coaches' academy will complement each other.
"We recommended an executive mentor program which would create formal mentor relationships with veteran head football coaches and directors of athletics," Hemenway said.
"We will match people with football coaches and ADs who are respected and distinguished by their success. Those being mentored will receive the career advice and networking needed to secure head football coaching positions."