African-American coaches making strides

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Dallas JacksonClick Team rankings: Race slow to take shape Here to view this Link. is the National Columnist for Rivals.com. Email him your comments or story ideas to DallasJ@Yahoo-Inc.comClick Team rankings: Race slow to take shape Here to view this Link. and follow him on TwitterClick Team rankings: Race slow to take shape Here to view this Link..

With the college football kickoff a week away, 13 African-American FBS head coaches are set to lead their teams into game action.

The fact that there are nearly three times the amount of African-American head coaches at the highest level entering this season versus just five years ago -- and more than 10 percent across the board -- should be a societal victory, but the tracking and publishing of those numbers show a lack of true progress on the always sensitive color issue across the landscape of the game.

Four coaches -- Paul Haynes, Darrell Hazell, Trent Miles and Willie Taggart -- will come out of the tunnels at Kent State, Purdue, Georgia State and USF, respectively, for the first time. Again, that number indicates progress because it represents more than 10 percent of the total number of FBS hires made this offseason.

Like every coach, performance on the field and in recruiting will dictate how long each stays in his position. All four understand how success is measured, and all said that progress has been made in the advancement of African-Americans.

"It is light years ahead of five years ago," Haynes said. "I have been through the process a couple of times, and I don't know how much color is looked at anymore -- at least in the final stages. I do think that there needs to be more attention paid to getting more guys qualified to be at that point.

"I think that (minority hiring) is still a problem, but it is one that the NCAA has addressed and made strides on. No one is ignoring it anymore, but there is still a long way to go."

Haynes worked his way up the ladder in his 20-year career, going from a graduate assistant at Bowling Green to defensive coordinator at Arkansas before he was hired to replace Hazell at his alma mater. He closed the class of 2013 recruiting cycle at No. 7 of the 13 teams in the MAC.

For 2014, the team has six commitments and is No. 9 in the conference.

His philosophy in recruiting is simple: stay local and hit the hotspots.

"We will recruit Ohio like crazy," Haynes said. "I have ties from coaching at Ohio State, and I know a lot of coaches in this area -- including (from) Pittsburgh and Michigan.

MINORITY (COACHING) REPORT

In 1994, there were just four African-American head coaches at the FBS level. The names shuffled, but the numbers went unchanged and in 2002 there were still just four. The following six years only increased the total to five in 2008, but the start of 2013 will see 13 African-American head coaches kick off the season.

Ron EnglishClick Here is a list of men in charge of programs and their records on the field. Here to view this Link., Eastern Michigan

James FranklinClick English has gone 10-38 in four seasons after taking over the Eagles. His 6-6 season in 2011 was the best the program has had since 1995, and English was named conference coach of the year. Here to view this Link., VanderbiltClick English has gone 10-38 in four seasons after taking over the Eagles. His 6-6 season in 2011 was the best the program has had since 1995, and English was named conference coach of the year. Here to view this Link.

Paul HaynesClick In two seasons at the helm, Frankin has gone 15-11. Franklin led the team to a nine-win season in 2012 and its first end-of-season national ranking since 1948.Here to view this Link., Kent StateClick In two seasons at the helm, Frankin has gone 15-11. Franklin led the team to a nine-win season in 2012 and its first end-of-season national ranking since 1948.Here to view this Link.

Darrell HazellClick This is the first season as a head coach for Haynes. Expectations for the program remain high because of its recent success.Here to view this Link., PurdueClick This is the first season as a head coach for Haynes. Expectations for the program remain high because of its recent success.Here to view this Link.

Curtis JohnsonClick This is the first year for Hazell at Purdue. He has a record of 16-10 in his two seasons as a head coach. Hazell led Kent State to its first MAC division title last season before taking the new job. Here to view this Link., TulaneClick This is the first year for Hazell at Purdue. He has a record of 16-10 in his two seasons as a head coach. Hazell led Kent State to its first MAC division title last season before taking the new job. Here to view this Link.

Mike LondonClick Johnson was 2-10 in his first year. He is from the area and spent six years with the Saints. There are high hopes that he can rejuvenate recruiting and turn around the Green Wave.Here to view this Link., VirginiaClick Johnson was 2-10 in his first year. He is from the area and spent six years with the Saints. There are high hopes that he can rejuvenate recruiting and turn around the Green Wave.Here to view this Link.

Garrick McGeeClick London is 16-21 in three seasons at Virginia after he had a 24-5 record and a national championship while coaching at Richmond. London's team finished second in the Coastal Division in 2011, and he was named the ACC Coach of the Year.Here to view this Link., UABClick London is 16-21 in three seasons at Virginia after he had a 24-5 record and a national championship while coaching at Richmond. London's team finished second in the Coastal Division in 2011, and he was named the ACC Coach of the Year.Here to view this Link.

Ruffin McNeillClick McGee was 3-9 in his first season but has hopes high for the future. McGee has been an aggressive recruiter and is keeping players inside the state of Alabama.Here to view this Link., East CarolinaClick McGee was 3-9 in his first season but has hopes high for the future. McGee has been an aggressive recruiter and is keeping players inside the state of Alabama.Here to view this Link.

Trent MilesClick McNeill has amassed a 19-19 record in three seasons guiding his alma mater. Last season, he led the Pirates to the East Division title and the New Orleans Bowl. It was the second bowl game in his three seasons.Here to view this Link., Georgia State

David ShawClick Miles' first year at the FBS level will be the first year for the Georgia State program at that level. In 2010, he was named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year at Indiana State. Here to view this Link., StanfordClick Miles' first year at the FBS level will be the first year for the Georgia State program at that level. In 2010, he was named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year at Indiana State. Here to view this Link.

Charlie StrongClick Shaw has a 23-4 record in two seasons at Stanford. He has led the program to consecutive BCS bowls and consecutive top 10 finishes. He was named conference coach of the year both seasons. Here to view this Link., LouisvilleClick Shaw has a 23-4 record in two seasons at Stanford. He has led the program to consecutive BCS bowls and consecutive top 10 finishes. He was named conference coach of the year both seasons. Here to view this Link.

Kevin SumlinClick Strong is 25-14 at Louisville and has won a share of the conference title each of the last two seasons. The victory in the Sugar Bowl last season pushed expectations this season, and the team is a preseason top 10 selection. Here to view this Link., Texas A&MClick Strong is 25-14 at Louisville and has won a share of the conference title each of the last two seasons. The victory in the Sugar Bowl last season pushed expectations this season, and the team is a preseason top 10 selection. Here to view this Link.

Willie TaggartClick His record with the Aggies is 11-2 with a second-place finish in the division. His career record is 46-19 over five seasons. Last year, Texas A&M defeated Alabama and its quarterback, Johnny Manziel, won the Heisman Trophy. Here to view this Link., USFClick His record with the Aggies is 11-2 with a second-place finish in the division. His career record is 46-19 over five seasons. Last year, Texas A&M defeated Alabama and its quarterback, Johnny Manziel, won the Heisman Trophy. Here to view this Link.

Taggart enters his first season at USF. His career record is 16-20. He learned his craft under Jim and Jack Harbaugh, and he has similar philosophies. There could be immediate dividends in South Florida.

"With the coaches we have on staff, I am certain we will have guys recruiting in Georgia and Miami as well."

He said getting his first chance as a head coach is special and that he hopes more minorities will get similar opportunities.

"I hear too many times, 'we couldn't find any quality candidates,' and to me that sounds like there is some predetermined list of these so-called 'qualified candidates,'" Haynes said. "People in a position to hire need to be doing their due diligence to get familiar with who is really out there.

"I think that people making those decisions need to continue to look for candidates."

Hazell gave credit to Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke for following the line that Haynes illustrated.

Despite the fact that Hazell had nearly led Kent State to a BCS Bowl, Burke did not stop at his credentials before signing off on the hire.

"I think the biggest thing about hiring a minority coach is that the person doing the hiring needs to be comfortable with the candidate to do it," he said. "Morgan Burke went out of his way to search me out and get to know me -- he didn't just interview me. I never knew (Burke) before this process so he had to get comfortable with me, and I think that made his decision easier."

Burke told The Associated Press that it was not just getting to know Hazell that was important but that his former bosses -- including former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel -- gave him glowing recommendations.

"(Tressel) just said this is the perfect spot for Darrell," Burke told the AP. "He gets the work ethic and went on about a couple of other things. I just thought we wouldn't get the fan base excited if we line up and play like Wisconsin, you know, and (Tressel) said, 'You won't have any trouble with that. He was trying to get me to throw the ball all the time.'"

Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell said he believes Hazell will be successful as well.

"He was a good coach and recruiter at Rutgers, and then he carried that over to Ohio State," Farrell said. "He worked his way up the ladder and won on the field when he was given a chance at Kent State. This is the next logical step for him: going from the MAC to a midlevel job in the Big Ten."

When Hazell was hired to take over for Danny Hope, the program had 13 commitments. The class of 2013 lost four of those initial pledges, but the Boilermakers closed with 23 signees and the No. 56 class in the country.

Currently, the program has just eight commits and the lowest-ranked class in the Big Ten.

The slow start was by design because Hazell said he wanted to wait until the program got through spring football to start recruiting for this class.

He believes that recruiting Indiana, Illinois, Detroit, Ohio, Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania will be the key to success, as well as dipping occasionally into Florida, Georgia and Texas.

Hazell will use a three-tiered scale to measure the integrity of each recruit alongside his ability.

"Character is first," Hazell said. "If you are not a good guy and I find out that you mistreat people, it stops there. The other two things are important.

"The second thing I look at is academics. I believe there is a correlation between a smart kid who is willing to do his work and sound football players. You have to be disciplined enough to get up and get to class and turn in your work and listen to the teacher."

"The last thing I will personally sign off on is if they can play," Hazell said. "We need to have players who I believe will have the talent to succeed for us. But I only look at that once those first two criteria are met. In order."

Hazell said he is among those working toward colorblindness and ignoring the outside noise involved in the hiring process for majority as well as minority candidates.

"Honestly, I just worry about me and my staff and make sure we are doing our jobs, so I don't know if it is improving for minorities or not because I am not an expert in the process and I haven't studied it," he said. "Working hard has paid off for me and success has found me and I hope that if I am successful -- or if anyone is successful -- that they are getting opportunities."

Taggart walks alongside Hazell in his belief that success comes before work only in the dictionary.

"I knew I was going to be a head coach someday, so I got a plan to move toward that every step of the way," he said. "I knew that when I set my mind to something I get it done.

"I never worried about color or about any other coaches -- minority or not. I just worried about Coach Taggart and making sure I was doing what needed to be done. You have to work hard and do a good job at every level -- and probably get a little lucky -- to land a head coaching job.

"There are not a lot of them out there and I don't know how the process goes, but I don't look at it as being a color issue right now," Taggart said. "The goal is to win, and the expectation from everyone is to get the players, prepare them to play and win."

Taggart is the youngest of the four, but like Hazell he is at his second stop as head coach after leading Western Kentucky to a bowl game last year and knocking off Kentucky during the season.

Farrell said players will be attracted to his style of coaching.

"He is young and energetic," Farrell said. "He will be more of a player's coach than even Hazell, and I think kids will relate to him and play for him.

"He is more in the mold of a James Franklin at Vanderbilt or Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M in the way he has a confidence and energy that people are drawn to."

The recruiting efforts at USF had dipped dramatically under former coach Skip Holtz, going from No. 29 in 2009 to No. 63.

The class of 2013 closed strong, with Taggart landing 18 commitments in his lone month on the job, and finished No. 49 nationally.

The current class has 15 pledges and is No. 5 in the American Athletic Conference.

Taggart said some of the perception of minority hiring is misleading in that not everyone has the same ambition.

"There are a lot of other duties that come with being a head coach, and there are a lot of guys who just don't want to deal with that stuff," he said. "I know for a fact that there are a lot of guys that are very happy being an assistant and being a coordinator because that is all football related.

"You can make a good living without the same pressures, and that is appealing. For me, I always wanted this position so I worked toward it. I don't make the decisions on who gets hired, but I want to make sure that I am working hard enough that I am getting the opportunities I want."

Farrell said the success being enjoyed by minority coaches is opening the door for many to follow.

"Guys like Sumlin, Franklin, Charlie Strong at Louisville and David Shaw at Stanford are helping make color a nonfactor," Farrell said. "It wasn't even a decade ago when Sly Croom was the first African-American coach in the SEC. That is a unique frame of reference from where we were to where we are.

"I don't think that any player is going to commit to a coach just because he is African-American -- and really most staffs are well balanced, so it becomes a little more of a nonfactor -- but I think that it is fair to say that we are making progress across the board and hopefully in another decade this won't be a story."

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