Speaks Out
By Daily Bruin Staff
Aug. 5, 2001 9:00 p.m.
Recently, Jesse Jackson met with the NCAA to discuss the
lack of African American coaches in Division 1-A college-level
sports at schools such as UCLA, where only one out of 20 head
coaches is African American. How do you think coaches should be
selected? Melissa Young First-year
Business economics “I think that it would be favorable for
the players to have someone to identify with, especially because
coaches give so much moral support. It’s different to have
someone that you can identify with on another level. The selection
process should also be based more on skill, and not name
recognition because that’s probably why African Americans are
being left out.” Tyrone Howard Faculty
School of Education and Information Studies “Ability and
merit should be at the top of the list when selecting a coach, but
the university also has an obligation and responsibility to see to
it that they make an attempt to represent people of culturally
diverse backgrounds. There needs to be a real concerted effort to
see to it that people of diverse backgrounds have an opportunity to
put their name in and be considered.” Michael
Chun Post-baccalaureate student Pre-medicine “I
think coaches should be selected based on the quality of their
coaching ability and talent, not necessarily what ethnicity they
are. Just because someone is African American does not mean that
they are more qualified. Most of the players who join a team are
concerned about winning and becoming the best. Any university
choosing a coach based on ethnicity and not on ability is probably
leaving team members unsatisfied.” Scott
Buttes Third-year Philosophy “A coach should be
picked based on qualifications, experience and skill. They’re
competing against other applicants, so (they) have to be the best
candidates. If a black coach has the professional and managerial
skills necessary to fill the position, and he is more qualified
than other applicants, he should get the job. But race, ethnicity
or gender should not help or hurt any applicant.” Speaks Out
compiled by Maegan Carberry and Edward Chiao, Daily Bruin Senior
Staff. Photos by Alice Lam, Daily Bruin Contributor.
