Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Recreation and Leisure Studies

Major Professor

Mary Dale Blanton

Committee Members

Patricia A. Beitel, Dhyana Ziegler, Camille Hazeur

Abstract

This research attempted to compare black and white assistant football coaches at the NCAA Division I-A level. The study evaluated the athletic background, coaching experience, career goals, and perceptions of assistant football coaches. Descriptive statistics was used to examine the data. It was concluded that white assistant coaches had a higher level of education than black assistant coaches. The data suggested that the black assistant coaches were more influenced by black athletes while race did not seem to influence white assistant coaches. Black assistant coaches were honored more by team awards while white assistant coaches were recognized nationally. The research showed that black assistant coaches played more peripheral positions while in college than did white assistant coaches. The decision for the athletes to play a particular position was made by the coach and parents for black assistant coaches, while the coach was the person most responsible for the position moves for white assistant coaches. Being a head coach was the goal of about half of both black and white assistant coaches. From the results, it appears that playing position and race have a direct relationship upon the football position presently being coached. Recommendations included using a blind hiring practice. Do not allow the race of a candidate to play any part in the hiring or promoting of a qualified candidate. Another recommendation was to eliminate the hiring of an underqualified minority to simply have one on the staff. Hiring underqualified minorities only hurts the chances of qualified minorities for the future.

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