Minorities Still Finding Offensive Coordinator Jobs Out of Their Reach

The NFL's 91st season debuts on Thursday night, but only the last half of the league's history provides a distinguishable diversity march. Since minority players were included in 1946, other benchmark years include Bill Walsh's minority coaching fellowships that originated in 1987 and the Rooney Rule that helped create minority head coaching interviews and opportunities since 2003. The rule was extended to senior football operations positions last year.

The league begins the 2010 season with five minority general managers, six minority head coaches and eight minority defensive coordinators.

But this season unfolds with a glaring, gnawing issue for minority coaches: the lack of diversity among the league's offensive coordinators who call plays and the pipeline positions -- quarterback and offensive line coach -- that often generate candidates.

Of the league's 32 teams, there are two minority offensive coordinators -- Jimmy Raye (above) of the 49ers and Hue Jackson of the Raiders -- who design game plans and call their teams' offensive plays.

There is one minority quarterback coach: Mike Johnson of the 49ers.

There are two minority head offensive line coaches: Juan Castillo of the Eagles and George Warhop of the Browns.

Any way you slice it, these numbers are pitiful.

"It's an issue, it's a concern,'' Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said.

DESERVING CANDIDATES Ten current NFL minority coaches worthy of consideration for offensive coordinator/play-caller positions: • Clarence Shelmon, Chargers: Current title is offensive coordinator, but coach Norv Turner primarily calls the plays. Shelmon can do the role full-time. • Curtis Modkins, Bills: Same situation as Shelmon's, his under coach Chan Gailey. He's ready. • Ray Sherman, Cowboys: Current receivers coach with 36 years coaching experience (22 in the NFL) and a former offensive coordinator for the Steelers (1998) and Vikings (1999). • Craig Johnson, Titans: He is assistant head coach/running backs but has a wealth of experience as an NFL quarterback coach. • Anthony Lynn, Jets: Running backs coach and former NFL player who is exceptional in analysis in the video room and on the field with his players. • Bobby Turner, Redskins: The team's assistant head coach/running backs who enters his 16th year of NFL coaching. • Darryl Drake, Bears: Enters seventh season as receivers coach and artfully mixes offensive knowledge with teaching. • Eric Bieniemy, Vikings: Assistant head coach/running backs who is a definite riser. • Curtis Johnson, Saints: Wide receiver coach who is intricately involved in Saints potent offense. • Eric Studesville, Broncos: Running backs coach whose X's and O's knowledge is frequently applauded.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese said: "Let's hope this generation starts talking about it. Let's not assume people are not qualified. There is nothing that will be done if people don't talk about it and draw attention to it. The facts are the facts. There are two guys. There have to be more than two qualified minorities to call plays in this league.''

Is it a trust factor? Will it take a minority offensive coordinator to win the Super Bowl like it did for the minority quarterback to help spur change?

"When I won the Super Bowl, when Tony Dungy won the Super Bowl as a coach, that should have made this issue over with,'' said Doug Williams, who broke diversity ground with his Super Bowl MVP victory 22 years ago followed by Dungy's championship victory three years ago. Williams is now general manager of the UFL's Virginia franchise.

"Too many of these NFL coaches are hiring their brothers and family members for the pipeline jobs to offensive coordinator,'' Williams said. "The offensive coordinator is a position of authority and some of these coaches and general managers in the league still have a problem with putting a minority in that position of authority. That's a mentality that still exists and it is not just going to disappear."

The offensive coordinator, the play-caller, has long been an NFL position of creativity and glamour. Like the quarterback, it is the "thinking man's" position.

One high-ranking minority official with an NFL team suggested, requesting anonymity, "That's the issue -- they still don't think we know how to think.''

A 'WAKE-UP CALL'

The league office takes exception to that.

Ray Anderson, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, said: "I do not think this is a nefarious situation or there is negative thought going on or an endeavor to support that. I do not see it as a crisis by any stretch of the imagination. I do see it as an opportunity issue as part of the overall importance for upward mobility for minorities.

"I think more recently light has been shed on the fact that at the offensive coordinator position there has been a lack of minorities. We have to determine the factors. It is a wake-up call and the blanket has been pulled back in terms of the numbers. We are asking the question of how we improve the numbers.''

Here are potential solutions:

• Encourage minority coaches, especially those entering the Walsh coaching fellowship, to move into quarterback and offensive line positions. This year's Walsh group included a record-setting 96 coaches. More than 1,500 have participated in the program since its inception. This program can serve as a solid resource.

• Encourage head coaches when selecting their offensive coordinators to begin to consider minorities who hold the title of assistant head coach and other offensive titles. By including these groups, the pool of minority candidates should increase.

• Minority assistant offensive coaches from all positions who aspire to be offensive coordinators should request to sit in on game-plan meetings. This will help them better prepare for advancement. It is an item they should seek to have included in their contracts.

• The league should continue to grow and spread its interview tapes of minority candidates for these positions. These tapes are often a positive initial step for coaches and general managers becoming more familiar with minority candidates.

• The NFL at its annual owners meetings and among its various committees should readily and candidly discuss this issue and seek remedies.

The NFL has proved throughout its history that when it desires to boost diversity, it can.



"The real problem is that minorities on this issue have been systematically pushed away,'' said John Wooten, 73, chairman of the Fritz-Pollard Alliance, a group that monitors and assists diversity in the college and pro game. "What is happening is, and we might as well face it bluntly, too many teams in this league simply feel they don't want a minority guy running that show.

"But I have been in and around this league for more than 50 years and I can say that in nearly all areas the NFL is better in diversity than it has ever been before. Under the direction of (commissioner) Roger Goodell and with Mr. (Dan) Rooney's help, we have seen tremendous progress. But in the area of the offensive coordinator and those pipeline positions, if teams want to bypass great talent, all they are going to do is allow someone else to eventually get it and defeat you.''