The highlight Deion Sanders has dropped at traditionally black school soccer applications has been unparalleled. Interest is at an all-time excessive and Sanders has championed multiplying publicity for the expertise at HBCU applications. Sanders was particularly referring to the gamers, however the identical sentiments might be stated for HBCU coaches. Coaching at HBCUs has at all times been an obstacle to profession development pre or post-integration. Two seasons into Coach Prime’s metamorphosis of Jackson State soccer, Power 5 applications comparable to Nebraska, Georgia Tech, and Auburn are critically contemplating him for his or her respective openings. But he’s an anomaly.
Division I HBCU soccer exists inside its personal bubble that mainstream school soccer athletic administrators flip a blind eye to. The NCAA and its member conferences haven’t any Rooney Rule. Consequently, few stepping-stone alternatives materialize for black school soccer coaches, however that’s very true for HBCU head coaches who’re shut out of the teaching carousel. Promotions to Football Bowl Subdivision jobs include increased salaries, bigger staffs, prodigious budgets, extra assets, a better caliber of expertise — in addition to elevated scrutiny. However, for teaching skills missing Coach Prime’s cachet, these alternatives are uncommon.
Over a dozen head coaches have been employed for head teaching positions from the FCS stage or decrease within the final decade. Dino Babers, one of many few black coaches to graduate from FCS soccer to FBS has Syracuse 6-0. The variety of coaches who’ve leapfrogged from even decrease ranges in Division II or Division III to FBS jobs, outnumber the minority coaches from HBCU conferences who’ve executed the identical.
Kansas’ hiring of Lance Leipold from Wisconsin-Whitewater the place he gained a number of Division III titles has been a rousing success. LSU’s Brian Kelly made his title at Division II Grand Valley State earlier than getting plucked away by Central Michigan.
For these entrenched in HBCU soccer, they need to wander outdoors the SWAC and MEAC Conferences partitions to even get on the mainstream radar. Oftentimes, which means taking a demotion. Howard offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s “Go-Go” offense put him on the observe and his offensive ideas have turn into one of many most studied schemes within the nation. But Marion himself has but to achieve an offensive coordinator place. Last season, he coached the vast receivers at Pittsburgh — the place Jordan Addison earned the Fred Biletnikoff trophy, awarded to the perfect receiver within the nation — whereas this 12 months Marion is the passing recreation coordinator at Texas. He ought to a minimum of be an offensive coordinator someplace by now.
G/O Media could get a fee
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles, who’d desire we slam shut the dialogue on race and training now that he’s by the door, took the circuitous route from the defensive coordinator at Morehouse and Grambling State to the NFL. The Eddie Robinson Award, given to the perfect coach in school soccer, is known as after essentially the most profitable coach in HBCU soccer’s lengthy historical past. Since the mixing of faculty soccer, applications at PWIs have devoured up the expertise that used to play at HBCUs, however have declined to rent HBCU coaches.
The solely HBCU head coach within the final 60 years employed away by an FBS program was Alcorn State’s Jay Hopson in 2016. This is Jay Hopson.
The hiring of Hopson as the primary white head coach within the historical past of the SWAC Conference created nationwide headlines in 2012. Then, after 4 seasons, 32 wins, and 17 losses — together with his ultimate one to North Carolina A&T within the Celebration Bowl — Hopson was quietly scooped up by Southern Miss.
The profitable head coach on the opposing sidelines for Hopson’s final recreation at Alcorn State was 56-year-old Rod Broadway, In 15 seasons, Broadway compiled a 125-45 report, led A&T to the FCS playoffs and an undefeated season in 2017. He has by no means been critically linked to an FBS opening.
FAMU’s Willie Simmons is at the moment the preferred HBCU teaching prospect not named Deion, however even he’s hit a wall. Simmons, 42, was within the operating for the Florida International job after Butch Davis’ contract expired final December. Simmons compiled a 45-21 report, gained 24 of 34 video games at FAMU regardless of administrative dysfunction, spearheaded the No. 1 protection in FCS, and guided the Rattlers to a uncommon FCS playoff berth. Simmons already has connections all through the fertile recruiting grounds in South Florida. It was an ideal match. Ultimately, FIU handed over FAMU’s teaching prodigy for a retread in Mike MacIntyre, who final went 30-44 at Colorado.
Ideally, Simmons, who’s 13 years youthful than Sanders will likely be provided an FBS job in due time. Sanders could find yourself as the primary, however he shouldn’t be final.