Old problem, new solution? Can programs such as the NCAA's Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Males boost the numbers of Black head coaches, athletic directors? - Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars 2002

Black Issues in Higher Education, April 11, 2002 by Pamela Burdman

Leadership Institute participants expect to get a similar boost in their careers.

"This is one of the best things the NCAA has done for us," says Robert Collins of NIU. "It's raised my level of confidence that I feel like I could take over a position right now and be a very effective athletic director.

"I think we're going to become a select group of individuals who will get a very, very close look when some of these positions are opening up in the next five to 10 years," Collins adds. "If the opportunity presents itself, it's probably not only time, but it's my duty as a minority prepared administrator to go out and become an administrator because we have very few of those."

Whether Collins gets that opportunity will be a factor not just of his own preparation, but of the commitment universities make to seeking out minority applicants -- a fact that everyone connected to the Institute recognizes.

"There hasn't been a tree focus at the institutional levels. It's important for these issues to be a concern and a priority from the presidents' perspective," Rochelle Collins says.

"It's a funny thing that people can go out and recruit student-athletes of color from around the country. They can track you from the time you're a junior in high school, but after you graduate and you leave, they somehow can't locate you when it's time to be a coach or an administrator," Marshall says.