A study released by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport shows minimal change over the last year in the diversity of conference commissioners, campus leaders and head football coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision institutions.

“The Buck Stops Here: Assessing Diversity among Campus and Conference Leaders for FBS Schools in 2008-09” shows that the number of minorities holding college presidencies and head football coaching positions are both up 0.8 percent, while the number of minority athletics directors is down the same percentage.

The study was released a day after the Division I Leadership Council began discussions on improving diversity in the division’s governance structure.

According to the report, 15 of the 120 athletics directors in Division I’s FBS are minorities and five are white women. Also, 5 percent of head football coaches were African American men in the 2008 season. Two African-American coaches, Ron Prince of Kansas State and Tyrone Willingham of Washington, have been fired and will leave their posts at the end of the season.

About 50 percent of football student-athletes in the FBS are African-American.

Though the NCAA can not legally adopt a rule requiring schools to interview minority candidates, President Myles Brand encourages schools to embrace diversity and hire qualified minorities. The Association also sponsors career advancement and professional development clinics that target minority football assistant coaches and coordinators.

The Double-A Zone this week featured a post examining the dearth of minorities and women in intercollegiate athletics. The blog has incited a spirited debate on the subject. Click here to join the conversation.