I firmly believe that the recently approved Coaches Academy is a slap in the face to coaches of color. It is unbelievable that black coaches would support a notion that our coaching preparation is inferior.

Is the NCAA saying that former great coaches such as Vernon (Skip) McCain at Maryland State College, Jake Gaither at Florida A&M University, Eddie Robinson at Grambling State University, Earl Banks at Morgan State University and John Merritt at Tennessee State University were not prepared and that their coaching skills were inferior?

Present-day coaches such as Billy Joe at Florida A&M and Joe Taylor at Hampton University have outstanding programs and are being overlooked for other positions because of their color.

The aforementioned coaches all have great records and have graduated many players into the professional ranks.

To me, this Coaches Academy says that white coaches from the womb can start coaching at a high level. Is it true that white coaches never get fired because of poor coaching? What is true is that the NCAA should be going after the white college presidents and athletics directors who only feel comfortable with people who look like them.

It is just a matter of doing the right thing, and fairness.

Let black coaches go to this farce of an academy. We are still not going to be hired as long as the people who do the hiring have plantation attitudes about black coaches.

Curt Gentry
Former Head Football Coach
Alabama A&M University and
Lincoln University (Missouri)