“Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, teach him how to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” This is a proverb that former Kansas City Chiefs general manager and Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council member, Scott Pioli, firmly believes is the strategic thinking behind the Minority Coaching program. For nearly 27 years, the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program has been working to diversify the coaching ranks for all 32 teams. The program has been very succesfull in that span of time, in that it has paved the way for many minority coaches who have gone on to have succesfull NFL careers.
HISTORY
In 1987, NFL legend Bill Walsh, launched the first Minority Coaching Fellowship Program to create more job opportunities for minority coaches. The program started with two participants, Jerry Brown and Tyrone Willingham. Both went on to have successful careers as Tyrone Willingham had the opportunity to be the head coach at Stanford University, University of Notre Dame, and the University of Washington and Jerry Brown who is still an assistant coach for Northwestern University til this day. In the following year, Walsh selected Marvin Lewis, who is the now head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, to participate in the program in the following year. After several years, the NFL recognized Walsh for his program and it’s successful turnout, it later implemented the program with all 32 teams. Since 1987, the program has mentored more than 1,500 minority coaches.
OBJECTIVE
Which brings us to what the program has grown into today, and that is a groundbreaking program that has provided many aspiring coaches an opportunity of a lifetime, to be leader in a sport that we all know and love. The program’s objective is to use NFL Clubs’ training camps, off-season workout program and mini-camps to give talented minority coaches opportunities to observe, participate, gain experience and ultimately gain a full-time NFL coaching position.
The program is designed as a vocational tool to increase the number of full-time NFL minority coaches, all 32 NFL Clubs participate in the program on an annual basis. Though specific aspects of the program (including hiring, salary and coaching duties) are administered on a Club-by-Club basis, the experience is cherished by those selected to participate.
Just ask University of Richmond assistant coach, Fortel Mines, who has been selected for the Bill Walsh Fellowship Program this year and will be working with the Washington Redskin’s coaching staff this summer.
“I am thrilled by the opportunity to work for a first class program like the Redskins,” Mines remarked. “This is a great chance to learn and develop from coaches at the highest level.”
As part of the fellowship, Mines will be working as an assistant to Redskins tight ends coach Wes Phillips from July 21 to August 2.
All Participants are hired by the NFL teams for the duration of training camp, including all pre-season games and clubs. Up to date, 30 current NFL coaches graduated from the program, including two current head coaches (Marvin Lewis – Cincinnati, and Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh).
Aforementioned graduate of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaches Fellowship, Marvin Lewis is still a steady advocate of the program, and is on record for championing the program for it’s contribution to the sport and it’s ongoing service to minority coaches.
“This program helped me get ahead as a coach, and it’s great to see it continue as strong as it is. It’s a good experience for our full-time coaches as well as the interns.”
ADVISORY COUNCIL
In 2012, the NFL established the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Advisory Council. The council is comprised of 13 members (club presidents, general managers, head coaches and assistant coaches) who will focus on developing a pipeline of minority coaches, including former NFL players pursuing opportunities in the coaching profession.The council will meet regularly to recommend league-wide best practices in selection criteria for fellowship candidates, standardization of program elements and tracking results for future improvements.
The issue of diversity in the coaching ranks has long been a hot-button issue in the NFL. There are currently only four African-American head coaches in the league. That is only 1/8 of head coaching positions that are being occupied by minority coaches. Joining Lewis, who also happens to be the second-most tenured active head coach, are Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin, Detroit’s Jim Caldwell and Tampa Bay’s Lovie Smith. Now with an established pipeline set in place by the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship, hopefully more minority coaches can rise through the ranks and become future NFL coaches.
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