There Has Been A Slight Increase In Black Women Coaching At Power Five Schools

sThe hiring of coaches of color to oversee women’s basketball programs has been a trend among the so-called power leagues, particularly in the Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences.

The two conferences each have five Black head coaches, including three women changing jobs in the most recent cycle: Texas A&M’s Joni Taylor, Syracuse’s Felisha Legette-Jack and Virginia’s Amaka Agugua-Hamilton. While Kenny Brooks of Virginia Tech is the only Black male head coach of a women’s team at a Power Five university, the ACC has four Black female coaches.

Although there have been 14 Black women in charge of teams across 65 Power Five schools over the past two seasons—an increase of one from 2021—the total number does not indicate a significant shift. According to a study using information from the 2020–21 season, that represents less than 22% of the total in a sport in which Black athletes outnumbered athletes of all other races by a margin of 40.7%.

Nevertheless, hiring trends are moving in the direction of greater equality, with women of color filling five of the twelve openings in the Power Five conferences over the course of the previous offseason.

“It’s a very solid number,” The ACC and SEC, according to Richard Lapchick, director of Central Florida’s Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport. “If that continued for a number of years, I believe there would be many more content black women head coaches in the Power Five conferences than there are right now.”

Lapchick also brought up the two Black female athletic directors in the ACC, one each at Duke and Virginia. The SEC also has two female minority ADs, at Vanderbilt and Missouri.

“I think there is something to be said about leaders making decisions,” said Duke AD Nina King. “You have a diverse group and you’ll bring a diverse group of coaches to the table.”

King said that the conversations need to continue: “We must comprehend the obstacles in place and the reasons why fewer Black women are being hired. We need to knock down the barriers.”

More Black women are getting opportunities in the Pac-12 and Big Ten. Women of color have made up two of the last three hires in the Big Ten and three of the last four in the Pac-12. After four hires over the previous two seasons, there are no Black coaches of women’s basketball teams in the Big 12.

“There needs to be more opportunity, it should be equal opportunity,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “Evidently, statistics have shown that to be somewhat skewed. The fact that more people are getting opportunities and that the times are changing a little is something I like to see.”

Lapchick cited Dawn Staley’s accomplishments, who made history by becoming the first Black coach, male or female. to win two national championships. She was rewarded last year by South Carolina with one of the biggest contracts in women’s basketball history, a landmark $22.4 million, seven-year contract.

“I think Dawn getting a million-dollar contract was one of the biggest breakthroughs in women’s sports,” he said. “Despite being long overdue, it actually did occur. This will benefit other women who want to follow in her footsteps, not just there but also at other schools across the nation.”

Staley has been pleased to see more Black women entering the field.

“There is an influx of Black women getting opportunities,” she said. “More opportunities for black women to lead their programs are becoming available. We ought to be prosperous going forward, I hope.”

By sending them a piece of her championship net from the previous year, Staley has inspired other Black coaches outside of just her work on the court.

“Dawn Staley is a staple for women of color,” Niele Ivey, the coach at Notre Dame, stated. “She discusses it and mentions the net she sent out to everyone in an effort to support all the female head coaches. And I believe that simply having the chance and realizing how important representation is is powerful. Without a doubt, I believe that the trend is positive. And I believe it’s a good thing.”

Ivey wants to carry on what Staley started.

“I want to do a great job because I want my opportunity to be able to extend to someone else,” she said. “Naturally, you don’t want to fail only for the tide to turn. I don’t consider it when it comes to pressure. This position is a blessing to me. I’m going to give it my all because I love what I do and this university. In addition, I want my work to speak for itself.”

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