LEAD1 Association Releases Actionable Recommendations to Increase Senior Diverse Leadership in FBS College Sports

Jan 15, 2021

The LEAD1 Association (LEAD1), which represents the athletics directors of the 130-member schools of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), has released a white paper (download PDF version HERE) titled “Actionable Recommendations to Create More Diverse Senior Leadership in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) College Sports.”

The paper was created by LEAD1’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group, co-chaired by Sean Frazier, the Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at Northern Illinois University, and Dr. China Jude, the Senior Associate AD and SWA at the University of Wyoming, which LEAD1 created in late August 2020. The paper, on behalf of the working group, is addressed to all stakeholders in FBS college sports including all conferences, institutions, the NCAA, the College Football Playoff (CFP), relevant search firms, and others. The paper has already been endorsed by the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA).

The white paper outlines an actionable plan for FBS college sports to help create more opportunities for people of color to advance through the ranks, thereby increasing diverse senior leadership in FBS college sports. Some of the paper’s notable recommendations include:

  • Tethering diversity hiring to financial incentives, particularly through employment contracts within the enterprise;
  • Creating a highly selective, year-round, diversity program that can help sponsor more diverse senior-level candidates;
  • Grading relevant search firms based on their annual success in presenting a diverse pool of candidates to institutions;
  • Adding a layer of attestation, through the NCAA, with respect to college sports leaders receiving requisite training related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly regarding implicit bias; and
  • Giving the Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee (ADID), typically within FBS athletics departments, the power to influence and shape policies across campus.

“Our white paper is an example of our commitment to being a positive influence in the national dialogue on race and equality,” said Tom McMillen, President and CEO of LEAD1 (www.LEAD1Association.com). “We are proud of our work product after a several month process of working group calls. We thank our co-chairs, Sean [Frazier] and China [Jude], and all of our working group members, for their tremendous work throughout this process.”

Frazier added: “As we continue to observe the current diversity, equity, and inclusion challenges that our colleges and universities are experiencing, these LEAD1 actionable recommendations, developed by FBS practitioners, researchers, and scholars, provide a much-needed road map for measurable change. I am humbled to have contributed to this effort, but more importantly, I am appreciative to all those who will take accountability for this extremely important leadership.”

The working group’s roster follows below:

NameInstitution
Tom McMillenLEAD1 President & CEO
Sean T. Frazier (Co-Chair)Northern Illinois University
China Jude (Co-Chair)University of Wyoming
Amanda EkabutrUniversity of Massachusetts
Angie TorainUniversity of Notre Dame
Bart LambergmanLEAD1 Association
Brandi StuartUniversity of Central Florida
Brandon BradleyBrigham Young University
Broderick BinnsUniversity of Iowa
Charles SmallIowa State University
Daniel GarciaUniversity of Texas at El Paso
Eddie NunezUniversity of New Mexico
Fumi KimuraUniversity of Pittsburgh
Hannah DeweyLEAD1 Association
James HallNew Mexico State University
Jerlando JacksonUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison
Joe KarlgaardRice University
Katie SchillingKent State University
Kelcey RoegiersGeorgia State University
Kenneth Miles (posthumously)University of Michigan
Kevin WhiteNorthwestern University
Kristen BrownTexas A&M University
Marlon DechausayUniversity of Memphis
Marquita ArmsteadUniversity of South Florida
Monique HollandAuburn University
Natasha OakesUniversity of North Texas
Ragean HillUNC Charlotte
Randale L. RichmondOld Dominion University
Renae Myles PayneUniversity of Miami
Ted WhiteUniversity of Virginia
Terry PrenticeUniversity of Kansas
Tiffini GrimesUniversity of Alabama
Tracy ShoemakeTexas State University
Troy AustinDuke University
Wendy SmoothOhio State University

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