University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Athletics Signs Collegiate Coaching Diversity Pledge
09.22.2020 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Athletics News
UNC Asheville and Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone announced today that they have signed the Collegiate Coaching Diversity Pledge (CCDP), an opt-in pledge by Division I athletics directors to include a diverse group of candidates in the finalist pool for head coach vacancies in men's basketball, women's basketball, and football. Spearheaded by AthleticDirectorU, the CCDP reflects a commitment to ensure equal opportunity in the hiring of head coaches, and to address the barriers that have prevented full participation of underrepresented minority groups.
The CCDP already counts 30 Division I athletics directors as signatories and supporters of the initiative. These leaders represent 18 Division I leagues from coast to coast, including the: Atlantic 10, ASUN, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, CAA, Conference USA, Horizon League, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Patriot League, Southeastern, Southern, Southland, Sun Belt, West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference.
The Collegiate Coaching Diversity Pledge will be overseen by an esteemed group of independent higher education and sports leaders who comprise the Board of Advocates and the Board of Coaches. The Board of Advocates will work directly with the third-party clearinghouse designee - James Moore & Co. - to conduct a selective review of a representative sample of coaching searches to ensure compliance with the CCDP on an annual basis.
Members of the public can view the names of athletic directors who have signed the pledge, as well as their compliance status by visiting: www.CollegiateDiversityPledge.
Board of Advocates
Katrina Adams - Former CEO & President of the United States Tennis Association
Debbie Antonelli - Leading Women's Basketball TV Analyst
Arne Duncan - Former United States Secretary of Education
Len Elmore - Columbia University Lecturer, Men's Basketball TV Analyst
Richard Lapchick - Director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES)
Merritt Norvell - Executive Director of National Association For Coaching Equity and Development and former Athletics Director at Michigan State University
Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow - Associate Faculty Chair, Undergraduate Program at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business & former VP of Diversity & Inclusion at the NCAA
Michael Tannenbaum - ESPN NFL Front Office Insider and former EVP/General Manager of the Miami Dolphins & New York Jets
Board of Coaches
Michelle Clark Heard - Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Cincinnati
Tavaras Hardy - Head Men's Basketball Coach, Loyola University Maryland
Chris Holtmann - Head Men's Basketball Coach, The Ohio State University
Mike London - Head Football Coach, The College of William & Mary
Van Malone - Assistant Head Football Coach, Kansas State University
Cuonzo Martin - Head Men's Basketball Coach, University of Missouri
Jay Norvell - Head Football Coach, University of Nevada
Joni Taylor - Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Georgia
