Football is more than a game; it is a microcosm of life. Football, like life, presents physical and mental challenges – true adversity in some sense – that require innovative strategies, hard work and perseverance. Success rarely occurs without some sacrifice, agony and pain. Even the most talented individuals cannot do it alone; rather, they need the help of a team to reach the proverbial goal line. Paramount to a team’s ability to reach its goals is a coach.

A coach is everything – a teacher, a trainer, a motivator, a cheerleader, a recruiter, a confidant, and, on occasion, even a needed friend or parent. The relationship between coach and player is rooted in an elemental bond borne of a struggle to overcome adversity in the quest for elusive success. That bond is often life altering. A coach, therefore, is not only a cherished position of trust and leadership in the game of life, but also integral to the game on the field – a game enjoyed by hundreds of millions of fans generating billions of dollars in revenues.

Despite the vast numbers of minority football players at all levels, minorities are disproportionately excluded from or limited in coaching opportunities at most levels. The reasons for their exclusion is inextricably interwoven into the societal road blocks that underrepresented individuals frequently face. These roadblocks create an unfortunate imbalance where minorities do not enjoy meaningful participation in available coaching opportunities.