Access Discrimination in Intercollegiate Athletics

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the representation of racial minorities in intercollegiate coaching positions. Data were gathered from 191 NCAA Division I men’s basketball programs (60% of all programs). Results indicate that White head coaches were more likely than were Black head coaches to have White assistant coaches on staff and vice versa. Results further indicate that the proportion of Black assistant coaches (33%) was significantly less than the proportion of potential Black coaches (48%). Further, the race of the head coach moderated this relationship as Blacks were significantly underrepresented on the coaching staffs of White head coaches (30%) but not of Black head coaches (45%). It is suggested that the key to mitigating access discrimination is for coaches and administrators to realize the value ofdiversityandtheimportanceofadiverseworkforceontheultimateeffectiveness of the workgroup and organization.