INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA has released its 2005-06 Biennial Study on Ethnicity and Gender Demographics of Member Institutions’ Athletics Personnel, which shows that overall, black representation in athletics administrative roles has increased only minimally since 1995-96, the baseline year of the study.

The study was designed to track data on the ethnic and gender breakdown of athletics personnel at NCAA institutions.  Although the percentage of African American administrators overall has increased slightly, that boost is not reflected in decision making positions such as director of athletics or associate or assistant athletics directors.  The largest gains are shown in the positions of facilities manager, administrative assistant and business manager.

Figures reflecting all institutions including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) indicate that the percentage of black directors of athletics rose less than 1 percent in comparison to 2003, the last time the analysis was completed. The mark of 7.9 percent also represents a slight increase over the 1995-96 baseline data.

Blacks did make modest gains in the area of associate athletics directors overall, moving from 8.1 percent in 2003 to 9 percent in the most current study. Division II registered the largest gain of the three divisions in this category based on figures that incorporate all institutions including HBCUs by rebounding from 3.5 percent in 2003 to return to its 2001 level of 10.4 percent.  Among assistant directors of athletics, the overall percentage of African Americans in that position increased just over 1 percent to 9.8, compared to 2003 statistics.

Black women saw the most advancement in the roles of graduate assistant, academic advisor, senior woman administrator and intern. Overall, there was a 1.3 percent jump in the percentage of senior woman administrators to 10.4 percent, including HBCUs, compared to 1995-96 data. That figure also outpaced the 2003 data by a little over 1 percent. Division I institutions generated the largest increase at 7.4 percent. In Divisions II and III, the percentages decreased by less than a half percentage point, respectively, from 1995-96. However, the percentage of African American senior woman administrators in Division II increased by over 3 percent to 14.7, compared to 2003.

The percentage of black head coaches for men’s and women’s teams overall for all institutions including HBCUs remained unchanged from 2003 at 8.8 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, but remain slightly ahead of baseline figures of 7.6 and 7.5 percent. The largest gains were made in the category of black coaches of Division I men’s revenue sports (football and basketball) at 4.5 percent, including HBCUs.

Figures related to the percentage of African American assistant coaches overall also remained stagnant. At 15.5 percent and 12.1 percent for men’s and women’s teams, respectively, including HBCUs, assistant coaches of men’s and women’s teams rose just .4 and .6 percent compared to figures from 1995-96.

In contrast to the figures related to the diversity of athletics administrative and coaching personnel, the number of black student-athletes competing at the Division I level rose along with the total number of student-athletes. African American student-athletes accounted for 20.2 percent of the total student-athlete population in the 2005-06 study, up nearly a percent from 2002-03.

“Overall, if you look at the growth of student-athletes of color who are involved in NCAA athletics, the big takeaway from this report is that the growth is not being reflected in the numbers of individuals who are either choosing or receiving the opportunity to become assistant or head coaches, directors of athletics and senior woman administrators,” said Charlotte Westerhaus, NCAA vice-president for diversity and inclusion.

“There appears to be a ceiling that’s preventing growth and there’s a need for some answers and action to remedy this,” Westerhaus said.

Westerhaus also pointed to U.S. Census data that reflects the nation’s growing ethnic diversity, which also is demonstrated in the college student population, but not in the leadership of intercollegiate athletics.  

As part of the data collection, the 2005-06 survey was distributed electronically to all 1,054 NCAA member institutions.  A significant change in the 2005-06 study as compared to the 1995-96 study was with the response rate.  The 2005-06 figures were based on a total of received forms, which is different from the 1995-96 baseline sample, which resulted in a 22.1 percent difference in response rate.  Despite the slight change, the percentages are considered to be robust enough to be meaningful.  

Beginning this year, survey data previously requested by research for the race and gender demographics study will be incorporated into the Sports Sponsorship Form, which each institution is required to fill out in order to be eligible for championships competition. Because of the championships eligibility implications tied to the sports sponsorship form, legislative action was required in all three divisions to combine the data collection efforts. The legislation has been passed in Divisions II and III and is currently making its way through the governance process in Division I.  It is believed that combining the data collection effort could significantly increase the potential for 100 percent participation in the race and gender study in future years.