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10:22 AM ET 05.20 | African-Americans have long dominated college basketball on the court. The same cannot be said for the sideline. The number of minority coaches in N.C.A.A. Division I is declining. The latest race and gender report card released in 2010 by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport showed that 21 percent of coaches in Division I men's basketball were African-American, down from a high of 25.2 percent during the 2005-6 season. In contrast, nearly 61 percent of Division I players were black. George Mason Coach Paul Hewitt pointed to two issues. One is the popularity of professional search firms, which often help big-name universities pinpoint talented coaches. The other is the rising stigma that surrounds coaches who are trying to climb into the college game out of Amateur Athletic Union basketball or the high school ranks.

Paul Hewitt, Icon SMI

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May 20, 2012 02:44 PM ET

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21 percent of coaches in Division I men's basketball were African-American, as opposed to only 12.6% of the general population. Playing and coaching require different skill sets ... so I'm not sure why the percentage of players is a particular issue. A-A's are over-represented at BOTH the player and coach levels ... they are more over-represented in one than the other.

htimsr40

Columbus , OH

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May 20, 2012 03:50 PM ET

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Winning and losing don't come in colors...

slipped on a peeling

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May 20, 2012 04:30 PM ET

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If there are less, it isn't because there haven't been opportunities. You have to win baby.

river1075

Las Vegas , NV

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May 20, 2012 08:31 PM ET

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"Diversity" is the most over used word in the English language. I can't believe the University of Central Florida has a "Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport" LMFAO! I could care less what their human rights activist "professors" have determined about diversity and equality in sport.

UCF should focus on funding things like engineering, science and medicine ... and work towards achieving Tier 1 status. The junk science of "human resources" can be studied at community colleges.

THIS is what's wrong with higher education in America today. We hand out degrees in crap and wonder why other countries produce more/better engineers, doctors, scientists ...

Dr. B-f-G

Bubbaville, TX

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May 20, 2012 10:17 PM ET

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You got to pay your dues, black or white.

THE BISHOP!

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May 20, 2012 10:19 PM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 10:17 PM ET 05.20 by THE BISHOP!

You got to pay your dues, black or white.

Got to pay your dues
if you want to sing the blues
and you know it' don't come easy ...

Dr. B-f-G

Bubbaville, TX

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June 10, 2012 07:31 PM ET

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I may be late reading this but it all comes down to getting the opportunity first. The African American coaches that are in question have paid their dues on and off the court. It just seems strange to me everyone that has something negative to say forgets that the level of diversity in this country has a long way to go. No one is asking for a hand out out, but just the same opportunity as white coaches receive. It just seems to me that either people are blind to the fact that this disparity has been going on for yrs or plain and simple they don't believe in level playing field!