I don’t know the answer, but the issue is that over 60% of athletes are of color and that’s not translating to coaches at any level (16%).
Perfectly stated.
Looks like 1-9
There are tons of NBA assistants that could step right in. There are College assistants and HC’s. It’s digging deep and finding the best candidates, not just the 10 the media pushes.
In fairness, it's a factual news report about the situation at the U, not an editorial position. But yes, they could sure be less boomery and waspy.
Why aren’t Smith and Dutcher already at P6 programs? Gates is most likely the Fleck hire for MN, but we will have to beat out others for his services.
Yeah, I feel the same way about this. If Coyle does his due diligence and ultimately ends up deciding that Gates is the right coach to lead Minnesota basketball, then he's hired the best candidate he can find and has done so for the right reasons. But because of this type of BS from the Strib it would make hiring Gates look like a token brought on to meet a quota, no matter his qualifications, which would be incredibly unfair to him. The unintended consequences of stirring the pot.
Height deficit
Anthony Grant is one.
Don't blame the newspaper; it's just the messenger.
Why was Whalen a no brainer? I could argue that was a terrible hire. You hire someone for a major division 1 program who has never coached a program a day in their life? Not even high school? I’m willing to guess there were multiple more qualified candidates who are black, or of color. Imagine Coyle hiring a coach for the men’s program with zero coaching experience. I’m sure the vast majority on here would love it.
Hmm, A1, above-the-fold placement with an attention-getting font size makes it pretty clear to me that they're sending a message to advance an agenda. That emphasis doesn't happen by accident.
I could care less if the staff is white, black, purple, Hispanic, Latino, Native American. They're all people and American citizens that have worked hard to get to where they are. Hire the best people. Don't play into the race/diversity card. I want us to hire the best head coach available.per Megan:
The University of Minnesota has gone 14 years without hiring a person of color as a head coach and remains the only Big Ten institution without a single person of color in the role of president, athletic director or head coach.
With men's basketball coach Richard Pitino's tenure likely nearing an end, the Gophers' lack of diverse leadership is drawing renewed scrutiny. Even before the speculation about Pitino's future, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren had noticed how the university's president, Joan Gabel, athletic director Mark Coyle and all 19 head coaches are white.
"They're aware," Warren said of Gabel's and Coyle's recognition of Minnesota's diversity gap. "I trust them. And I trust that they will always be focused on doing the right thing."
In the midst of renewed calls for racial equality after George Floyd's death under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer in May, the Gophers have fallen behind their peers in diversity hiring.
Since Coyle came to the Gophers in 2016, he has made 11 head coaching hires, including for revenue-generating teams football and men's hockey as well as programs such as wrestling, softball and women's basketball. All are white. The Gophers haven't hired a person of color at head coach since Tubby Smith in men's basketball in 2007.
"I would argue that we've done many things that are visible to the outside world," Coyle said. "If you look at our football program and putting 'End Racism' on our football jerseys for the Purdue game, highly visible, national audience."
With all-white leadership, Gophers athletic department under fresh scrutiny to improve diversity
Athletic director Mark Coyle has hired 11 white head coaches in his tenure.www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
What’s your take on the Lindsey Whalen hire? I questioned the hire at the time, and now I question it even more. She should of never been hired.
Exactly! As of now LW has not been a home run by any stretch!
I’m seriously interested on what people think of the Lindsey Whalen hire? By the argument I see a lot of people making on this board, it was, and should be considered a terrible hire.
I think we are short changing Gates qualification by focusing on his 2 years as a head coach instead of looking at how many years he put in as an assistant. Gates has 15 years experience as an assistant 2 as a GA & 2 as the head man in charge. Dutcher only has 4 years head coaching experience and he will be 62 when next season starts. Gates is 41 and a rising HC. I think he is qualified for the job has experience coaching in the Midwest, South, and West Coast. Recruiting won't be an issue and if he puts the right staff together he will have success here
Last year the hiring cycle was very dry. Smith has followed the path of many/most high major coaches. If he wants a P6 job he’ll get offers. Dutch has made it pretty well known with his buyout he isn’t leaving SDSU unless it’s for the U apparently. I like Gates a lot. He’s good and learned from Hamilton and Tom Crean. He’s got some Midwest roots and coaches in a town with other pro teams. That being said, it’s not as safe as Dutch or Smith. The question will be if you think his ceiling is higher?