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NCAA D-I Men's Basketball Hiring Report Card
Indianapolis, IN, February 20, 2012—The Black Coaches and Administrators with the support of the Indiana University (IUPUI Campus) School of Journalism/National Sports Journalism Center (NSJC) will announce in the fall of 2012 its findings via the release of a “Hiring Report Card” (HRC) that will address the current trends relevant to the search processes and hiring practices in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)/Division I institution’s men’s basketball programs.
The 2012 BCA Men’s Basketball Hiring Report Card will serve as a significant component in the evaluation of FBS/Division I institution’s search and hiring practices for head men’s basketball coaching positions for the 2012 hiring cycle. Institutions will be evaluated in four categories: Communication, Hiring/Search Committee, Candidates Interviewed, and Reasonable Time. Each category has a numerical score that will be converted into a letter grade for the final report.
BCA Executive Director, Floyd Keith stated, “The BCA is most pleased with this partnership with the Indiana University School of Journalism with regard to this process. 22.6% of the current head coaches in Division Men’s basketball are coaches of color; which represents 38% of the 61% of the black athletes on the court. The percentage of black head coaches has declined steadily since 2007 from 25% to the current 22.6%; as well as the proportionality ratio of 38% to 37%. The process is at a stalemate and we need to determine what the issue is.”
The rationale of the Hiring Report Card and the public release of the grades are to present an objective measurement that quantifies the four major categories that we believe influence the hiring process. Through this systematic evaluation, we hope to objectively increase public and institutional awareness of demonstrating a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The Men’s Basketball HRC will affirm each NCAA FBS/D-I institution’s commitment to conduct inclusive and diverse searches in all areas of the campus community.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Indiana University on the Men's Basketball Hiring Report Card (HRC). The Black Coaches and Administrators (BCA) regard highly its charge to advocate for inclusion on all levels of sport. The number of black male D-I basketball student-athletes has steadily increased in recent years, but we have not seen the same trend in the hiring of black coaches of men's basketball”, stated BCA President Danielle O’Banion.
O’Banion further explained, “This partnership between IU and the BCA provides an opportunity to hold institutions accountable. The impact of the HRC on search processes and hires made in football and women's basketball are noteworthy. We fully expect the same positive impact in the search processes in men's college basketball.
Dr. Pamela Laucella, Assistant Professor and Academic Director for the NSJC, stated, “I'm personally committed to diversity issues through my teaching, research and service.” Laucella noted, “I seek to influence perceptions and policy through my work, so the partnership between NSJC and BCA is a natural fit. I admire the work Floyd Keith and others do at BCA and I'm a huge follower of Dr. Richard Lapchick's pioneering work in promoting equity in sport.”
The hiring report card was initially unveiled as part of the BCA’s “Equity in Football Hiring’s: The Final Report” plan which resulted from the Summit I meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska during the 2002 BCA Football Classic weekend in August of 2002. The BCA annually releases Hiring Report Cards for NCAA FBS and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) head football coach hires and NCAA FBS/Division I women’s basketball head coach hires.
ABOUT BLACK COACHES AND ADMINISTRATORS (BCA)
The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally. The BCA is committed to creating a positive enlightened environment where issues can be examined closely, debated sincerely and resolved honestly. The focus of the BCA involves the concerns of its colleagues in professional sports, NCAA (Division I, II, and III), NAIA (Division I and II), junior college and high school levels. On May 31, 2007, BCA Board of Directors unveiled the new name of the organization during the 2007 BCA National Convention and Expo. The name change was made to clarify the expanding membership population of administrators and coaches within the BCA. Subsequently, BCA is now Black Coaches & Administrators.
ABOUT THE INDIANA SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM/NATIONAL SPORTS JOURNALISM CENTER (NSJC)
IU School of Journalism is 100 years old and continues its legacy of preparing leading journalists and industry professionals. The Indiana University National Sports Journalism Center is the most comprehensive institute for the study of sports journalism in America and is currently the only graduate program in sports journalism in the country. Through its academic courses and other programs, the center provides top quality and cutting-edge instruction on sports media for everyone from high school students to veteran professionals.
Contact Kennedy D. Wells, BCA Director of Membership/Special Assistant at 317-829-5604 or kwellsAbcasports.org for additional info.