INDIANAPOLIS --- The NCAA has invited 30 football coaches from member institutions to the 2007 Men’s Coaches Academy, which will be held June 30-July 2 in Indianapolis. 

The Men’s Coaching Academy is an NCAA program that addresses the critical shortage of ethnic minorities in head coaching positions in college football, primarily at the Division I-A level.  Of the current 117 Division I-A head football coaches, six are African-American and one is of Latino descent.  Three percent of head football coaches in all NCAA divisions are ethnic minorities, excluding the historically black colleges and universities.

The participants for the 2007 NCAA Men’s Football Coaching Academy are:

• Derrick LeBlanc, defensive line coach/special teams co-oordinator, Missouri State University
• Lamonte Massie, head coach, Livingstone College
• Eric Mathies, assistant football coach (defensive line), Western Kentucky University
• Matthew Montgomery, offensive coordinator, Saint Augustine’s College
• William Orr, assistant football coach, Florida A&M University
• Eric Puryear, defensive coordinator, Johnson C. Smith University
• John Rushing II, assistant coach, Utah State University
• Dearrion Snead, defensive coordinator, Lane College
• Marcus White, defensive coordinator, Elizabeth City State University
• James Williams, secondary coach, University of Washington

The NCAA Men’s Coaches Academy is designed to reinforce various aspects of securing, managing and excelling in head football coaching positions at the intercollegiate level.

The NCAA Football Coaching Academy workshop will focus on:

• Compliance Considerations (NCAA rules and regulations/infractions)
• Academic Issues (fraud, support, retention, success)

NCAA staff and administrators in their respective fields of expertise lead all Academy sessions.   Speakers include:  Myles Brand, NCAA president; Anton Goff, University of Maryland associate athletics director for academic support and career development; Dr. Fitz Hill, Arkansas Baptist University president; Dr. Janice Hilliard, NBA senior player development officer; Garrick McGee, Northwestern University football offensive coordinator; Dr. Merritt J. Norvell, Jr., TNG & Associates president; Jon Oliver, University of Virginia senior associate athletics director; Wally Renfro, senior advisor to the NCAA president; Edward Stewart, Big 12 Conference associate commissioner for football and student services; Joe Taylor, Hampton University head football coach and athletics director; Tom Thomas, president/CEO for Cardinal Advisors; and Charlotte Westerhaus, NCAA vice-president for diversity and inclusion.

The NCAA began its Football Coaches Academy Program in 2003.  Additionally, the Association hosts an Expert Coaches Academy program, which also provides skill enhancement at an elevated level. 

[Media note: The NCAA Coaches Academy programs are closed.   Media are welcome to interview participants and speakers prior to the start of each day’s program or at the end of each day’s program. NCAA Public and Media Relations staff will coordinate interviews.]

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