The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) has conducted a review of diversity representation within its structure and has reported its findings to the NACDA officers and executive committee.

Using the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee's (MOIC) mission statement -- which emphasizes the enhancement of opportunities for ethnic minorities and women in coaching, athletics administration, officiating and the NCAA governance structure -- as a foundation for the review, NACDA looked at its diversity representation in the following categories: officers/executive committee, Hall of Fame/Corbett Award; scholarships; and committees from its inception in 1965 to the present.

The report shows that there have been 62 officers, of whom eight (12.9 percent) have been females and ethnic minorities. The first ethnic minority officer was Howard Gentry of Tennessee State University, who served as secretary from 1970 to 1975 and second vice-president in 1975-76. NACDA's first ethnic minority president was current Arizona State University Athletics Director Gene Smith, who served as president in 1994-95 while at Iowa State University.

The first female officer was Betty Kruczek of Fitchburg State College, who served as secretary from 1989 to 1994. NACDA's first female president was Barbara Hedges of the University of Washington, who served in 1996-97.

There have been 349 members of NACDA's executive committee, including 93 females and ethnic minorities (22.6 percent). There always has been at least one ethnic minority on the committee, beginning with Sam Barnes of Howard University, who served from NACDA's inaugural year through 1969. The first women on the committee were Mary Jean Mulvaney of the University of Chicago and Mary Roby of the University of Arizona. Both served from 1976 to 1980.

Hall of Fame/Corbett Award

NACDA has had 37 Corbett Award winners, with three female and ethnic minority winners (8.1 percent). The ethnic minority recipients were LeRoy Walker of the United States Olympic Committee in 1993 and James Frank of the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 1998. The female recipient was Fitchburg State's Kruczek, who won in 1995.

There have been 364 people inducted into the NACDA Hall of Fame, including 49 females and ethnic minorities (13.5 percent). The first ethnic minorities elected to the Hall of Fame were Barnes of Howard and Ed Jackson of Tuskegee University in 1970. The first female inductee was Susanna Garrison of the University of Houston in 1980.

NACDA operates or has operated the following scholarship programs (total recipients are in parentheses): Disney/ Preseason Games (90), NACDA Foundation Football Games (52), Directors' Cup $5,000 (154) and Directors' Cup $1,000 (605).

Of the more than $2.3 million awarded in scholarships, about $1.2 million (52.2 percent) has been awarded to ethnic minorities and women.

There have been 117 females and ethnic minorities from the Disney/Preseason Games and Directors' Cup $5,000 scholarship programs (48 percent). Of the $1.2 million awarded through this program, females and ethnic minorities account for $585,000.

By definition, all of the NACDA Foundation Football Games Scholarships were awarded to males, so the female numbers were not factored into the total. However, there have been 12 ethnic minority winners, or 23.1 percent. They received $60,000 of the total amount of $260,000

By definition, all of the McLendon Scholarships are awarded to ethnic minority students, so the ethnic minority numbers were not factored into the total. However, of the 24 winners, there have been 10 female winners who have received $110,000 of the $255,000 awarded.

NACDA founded the McLendon Scholarship program and began providing awards to ethnic minorities in 1999-00. NACDA has endowed one scholarship for $250,000 and, to date, has raised an additional $500,000 for the purpose of continuing this ongoing ethnic minority scholarship program. Five $10,000 scholarships are awarded on an annual basis.

NACDA currently operates the following committees: continuing education, honors and awards, finance-management, Directors' Cup, strategic and long-range planning, nominating, parliamentarian, site selection and inter-association liaison. There are 124 slots on these committees, of which 40 are held by females and ethnic minorities (32.3 percent).

By definition, the McLendon Committee is fully composed of ethnic minority members. There are 14 people on the committee, of which two are women.

Eugene Marshall, director of athletics at Ramapo College and chair of the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, said the report reflects well on NACDA's commitment to diversity through the years.

"It shows NACDA's true commitment to diversity before it became the 'right thing to do,' " he said. "I applaud NACDA for its long commitment to diversity."