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The University of Louisville recently published a report ranking itself among the nation’s most culturally and ethnically diverse universities.
The ranking comes after a national report on diversity in college sports was published in December by the University of Central Florida.
The “2005 Racial and Gender Report Card for NCAA Division I Colleges” showed racial diversity in athletics had declined in some areas from previous years getting. The report gave a B for gender diversity and a B- for racial diversity for athletics overall, but said that diversity was still increasing. In the Louisville report, the school gave itself an A, despite admitting that there are no African American head coaches for any of its athletic teams.
“We don’t have a head [African American] coach, but our men’s tennis coach is of Philippine descent,” said Associate Athletic Director for Sports Information Kenny Klein. “There is diversity, so it doesn’t have to be African American. We follow the same procedure as everyone else does as far fairness,” he said.
Klein pointed out that while the school doesn’t have an African American in any head coach position, there are several African American coaches and staff members working in the athletic department.
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Marvin Menzies, Football Linebacker Coach Reggie Johnson, new Running back Coach Tony Alford, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coaches Tim Eatman and Zenarae Antione and Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach Mark Beckham are among them.
“I think we are a diverse group,” Klein said. “I also think of us as more of a metro [university] instead of urban [university]. I think it is very reflective of our staff,” he said.
Klein explained that U of L is always looking for “the best quality people for all positions in our department.” He highlighted the work of Video Operations Director Fred Reynolds, the man behind the jumbo screens at sports events. “A large percentage of what people see on the video walls at football and basketball games are things that he created.”
Students also see diversity among Cardinal athletes.
“I think [U of L] is diverse in basketball, football and track, but there is always room for improvement though,” said junior political science major Devon Johnson. “I don’t have a broad knowledge of the racial makeup, but I would say that there are certainly a lot of African Americans [on sports teams],” said sophomore justice administration major Bruce Martin.
The report agreed with students’ observations. Both U of L’s men’s and women’s basketball teams were recognized in the report for their diversity. Both teams have 11 African American players each.
Klein said diversity goes beyond athletes and coaching, however; it is embedded in the athletic department as a whole. Klein said that a number of women and staffers from several minority groups are also part of the athletic department staff.
