College Football's "Comfort" Problem Is Keeping Black Coaches Out, and It's Getting Worse

Alright, listen up, Seattle! We gotta talk about something in college football that's been simmering under the surface, and it's getting ugly. Remember all the cheers for integration decades ago, how Black players finally got their shot in the American South? Turns out, that progress only went so far, because when it comes to the guys calling the shots, the system is still stuck. What are we seeing right now? A huge problem with "comfort" in hiring decisions, and it's straight-up shutting out Black coaches.

The Numbers Don't Lie, Folks

You want facts? We got facts. Black players are crushing it, making up about half of major college football rosters. In 2024-25, we saw a record 9,617 Black participants in the Football Bowl Subdivision. That's fantastic, right? But flip the script to the sidelines, and it's a whole different game. Out of 136 major college teams, only 13 have Black head coaches. Thirteen! That's actually DOWN from 17 coaches out of 120 teams back in 2011. The SEC, that powerhouse conference, hasn't had a non-interim Black head coach since 2020. And get this: in the Big Ten and SEC combined, a whopping 33 out of 34 head coaches are White. Maryland's Mike Locksley is the lone Black head coach in those two leagues. This ain't a coincidence, people. The numbers are screaming that something is fundamentally broken.

"Comfort" Is Keeping Talent Out

So, why is this happening? Former NFL stars who are now coaching in college are calling it like it is. Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, now the head coach at Southern University, said it bluntly: "Football’s the only sport that players struggle to come off the field and become a coach. They look at us like if you’re successful at the game playing then you won’t be successful at the game in any other capacity.” He, along with Eddie George at Tennessee State and Michael Vick at Norfolk State, are finding a new path at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, often hired by Black athletic directors. There are only 22 Black athletic directors in the FBS out of 136 schools, so it's a tight circle. Faulk, George, Vick, Deion Sanders, and DeSean Jackson, all former NFL stars, took these coaching jobs at HBCUs despite little or no prior coaching experience. Southern even admitted Faulk's hiring was a "reach" after just one year as a running backs coach. But if "reach" means "risk," why aren't more big schools taking those risks on Black talent?

Faulk didn't hold back, pointing to other recent hires that make you scratch your head. Atlanta hired former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan as "president of football" with zero front-office or coaching experience. The Lakers grabbed JJ Redick as head coach in 2024, also with no coaching experience. The Texans even considered Josh McCown for head coach in 2022 despite his lack of coaching. Faulk highlighted the Falcons again, hiring Kevin Stefanski (White, 5-12 with Cleveland) after firing Raheem Morris (Black, 8-9 with Atlanta). "I’m just gonna say what it is," Faulk stated. These examples show a double standard that's hard to ignore. It boils down to "comfort" for those making the hiring decisions, and that word is a massive problem when it comes to diversity.

The Emerald City knows what hustle looks like, and this ain't it, college football. We've gotta demand better. The future of coaching in this sport is on the line, and if we're not seeing those numbers change, we're going backward. Let's keep watching, folks, because "we gotta get those numbers up, for sure," as Michael Vick put it. The clock is ticking on this issue.

DFS Pick'em

🏆 Underdog Fantasy: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries

Use code ONTAP to lock in this offer.

👉 Claim your $50 bonus on Underdog Fantasy

Sponsored. Must be 18+. Terms apply.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.