BOSTON
The grades are in for minority hiring in college sports, and they’re lousy.
A new study released in February by Northeastern University’s
Center for the Study of Sport in Society found that while the record
for minority hiring in pro basketball, football, and baseball is poor,
it’s even worse at the college level.
The “Racial Report Card” covering the 1995-96 academic year showed
that college sports have the worst record for hiring women and
minorities; the percentage of Black players decreased in college and
pro sports; and that majority ownership in sports for minorities does
not exist.
“There has been very little progress in the patterns of hiring
people of color and women in pro and college sport,” said Richard
Lapchick, author of the report and director of the center, which
conducts an annual study of the racial composition of players, coaches
and front office employees in pro basketball, football, and baseball.
This year, it widened its focus to include colleges.
“Despite well-intentioned efforts, White males still control most
of our teams, front offices, and athletic departments,” Lapchick said.
The center found that in 1996, 71.4 percent of the NCAA’s top
executives were White and approximately 21 percent were Black.
Approximately 92.1 percent of the organization’s chief aides were
White, 5.3 percent were Black, and 2.6 percent were Hispanic. Also,
more than 80 percent of the NCAA’s office managers were White, 9.4
percent were Black, and 1.9 percent were Hispanic.
