As of the 2021 college football season, there are currently 24 Black head coaches among the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, which is approximately 18% of all FBS head coaching positions. This is a significant increase from previous years, as the number of Black head coaches in college football has been historically low.
The lack of diversity in college football coaching has been a longstanding issue, with many experts citing systemic barriers and biases that make it difficult for Black coaches to get hired and advance in their careers. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need to address these issues, and some universities and conferences have taken steps to increase diversity in their coaching staffs.
Here is a list of the 24 Black head coaches in FBS college football as of the 2021 season:
- David Shaw, Stanford
- Herm Edwards, Arizona State
- Karl Dorrell, Colorado
- Willie Taggart, Florida Atlantic
- Willie Fritz, Tulane
- Mike Locksley, Maryland
- Kevin Sumlin, New Mexico
- Charles Huff, Marshall
- Deion Sanders, Jackson State
- Lance Leipold, Kansas
- Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
- Jeff Scott, South Florida
- Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
- Butch Jones, Arkansas State
- Thomas Hammock, Northern Illinois
- Brent Brennan, San Jose State
- Tony Elliott, Clemson (interim head coach)
- Dino Babers, Syracuse
- Terry Bowden, Louisiana-Monroe
- Jerry Mack, Rice (interim head coach)
- Dan Lanning, Oregon (upcoming, starting in 2022)
- Eddie George, Tennessee State
- Cornelius Williams, Tennessee-Martin
- Ryan Silverfield, Memphis
It’s worth noting that the number of Black head coaches in college football has fluctuated in recent years, and progress has been slow. However, there are signs that change is happening. In 2020, the Big Ten conference launched the “Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition,” which aims to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in college sports. Other conferences and universities have also taken steps to address issues of racial bias and promote diversity in their coaching staffs.
In conclusion, while progress has been made in increasing the number of Black head coaches in college football, there is still a long way to go to achieve true diversity and equity in the sport. The hope is that continued efforts to address systemic biases and promote inclusivity will help create a more level playing field for coaches of all backgrounds.
