A survey of intercollegiate head football coaches' programs for developing racial understanding

The purpose of this study was to examine the opinions of intercollegiate head football coaches concerning racial relationships in their programs. The intent was to determine if they had concerns about racial understanding and harmony within their programs. Another objective of the study was to determine if college football programs are providing opportunities for the players to develop racial understanding and harmony with each other.Surveys were distributed to 75 different college football programs. Fifteen programs were randomly selected from each of the 5 divisions of college football: NCAA Division I, NCAA Division I-AA, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA. A 49% response rate was achieved.The research revealed that a majority of the surveyed coaches are providing opportunities for the players to develop understanding and harmony between people of different ethnic and racial backgrounds. By examining the coaches' philosophies and methods, this study concluded that the coaches are providing opportunities through rooming assignments, staff modeling, seminars and the creation of positive, family-like environments within their team. The research also investigated the coaches that did not have a program to help develop racial understanding and harmony. A major theme of their philosophy was they did not need a specific program because there were no problems on their team.College football coaches have the opportunity to make tremendous impacts in young men's lives, if they choose. They can teach their players more than the game of football. Football provides a unique opportunity in which people of different racial and ethnic environments come together to pursue common goals. The results of this study provide aspiring coaches, who want to make a difference in our society through the lives of young men, with a basis of philosophies and methods that help to develop racial understanding and harmony on a football team.School of Physical EducationThesis (M.A.