The Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is "to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally". It currently is focused on athletics in North America, including professional leagues, college sports and high school athletics. The organization offers scholarships and actively promotes the hiring of ethnic minority coaches in professional and college sports.
The BCA was formed in 1988 as the Black Coaches Association, when two separate African American coaching groups (basketball and American football) merged and extended their work to coaches in all sports. The organization has been focused on improving the employment opportunities and professional development of ethnic minority coaches. Initially the organizations focus was on African Americans, but it has since expanded to all minority ethnic groups. On May 31, 2007, the name was officially changed to the Black Coaches & Administrators to clarify the expanding membership population of administrators and coaches within the BCA.
The BCA has long been highly critical of the lack of African American, and minority coaches in general, in college football—particularly in the highest, NCAADivision I FBS level. Noting the high number of African American players in college football, the BCA has been concerned that there have only been 19 African American FBS college head coaches ever. However, the group's president expressed optimism for the future in December 2009 after African Americans were hired for three FBS head coaching vacancies immediately after the 2009 season, and two more African Americans interviewed for open positions at BCS conference programs. The three hirings brought the total number of black FBS head coaches from 7 to 10, with the total increasing to 11 days later when one of the interviewees was hired.[1][2] By the end of December, the number went to 12 when Kentucky replaced its retiring coach with his designated successor.[3]
In 2015, the organization changed its name to Advocates for Athletic Equity (AAE) and expanded its role to promote the hiring of coaches and administrators of any ethnic minority in all sports.[4][5] In addition to releasing reports on minority coaching hiring, the organization hosts several career development events for minority coaches. AAE closed in 2016.[6]
BCA Classic
The BCA has sponsored college athletic events, the BCA Classics, in both basketball and football.
Basketball
The BCA Classic is an annual men's college basketball tournament held at various locations throughout the United States since 1994. Initially featuring a four teams playing two separate games, the field began expanding to a tournament format in 2000, to eight teams in 2004.
The BCA Classic (1997-2004) was an annual college football game held in the beginning of the season, pitting two major college football programs against each other in order to promote the BCA, generate funds, and, ideally, to feature schools with African American coaches. The 1997 game was titled the Eddie Robinson Classic, while subsequent games were named the BCA Classic.
The BCA sponsored two pre-season games in 2002. The day opened with NC State hosting New Mexico at 4:30 PM (ET), and was followed by a 7:30 PM (ET) kickoff featuring Arizona State at Nebraska.[7]
While the games were successful in terms of attendance and media coverage, the number of minority head coaches in D-IA did not go up and the BCA decided against holding a 2005 BCA Classic after its initial television contract expired in 2004.
†The 2000 game was postponed[9][10] when a lightning storm developed over Lane Stadium (notably hitting ESPN broadcaster Lee Corso's rental car[11][12]), the game was never rescheduled[13]
^"2004 Black Coaches Association Football Classic Set". Virginia Tech. 2003-12-23. Retrieved 2009-01-26. Virginia Tech was scheduled to play in the 2000 BCA Classic versus Georgia Tech, but that game had to be canceled due to thunder and lightning.
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