DORAL, Fla. – The first steps of a long run are typically slow.Then, momentum builds and speed is increased.

In its 20th year of existence, the Black Coaches Association is hopeful it has finally gained sufficient momentum and is on the verge of picking up speed in their run for fairness.

It has been well-documented that men of color have had few chances to be head coaches in Division I-A football. While some white coaches have gotten multiple opportunities to succeed, Washington’s Tyrone Willingham - who was previously at Notre Dame and Stanford - is the only black head coach to be fired at one school and rehired at another.

Black coaches aren’t asking to be hired because of their color. However, they don’t want to be denied for that reason, either. They feel their road has been blocked by college football’s hiring process. A head coaching candidate typically must be approved by several people, including big-money donors who are usually white. The feeling – whether true or not – is those supporters may be more apt to contribute if they’re more comfortable with the candidate who looks like them.

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