Black Head Coaches in NCAA Football: A History of Progress and Barriers
The landscape of college football, while seemingly meritocratic, has historically presented challenges for Black coaches. While progress has been made, disparities persist, demanding a closer look at the journey of Black coaches in the NCAA. The evidence is right in front of us, hiding in small but pivotal moments which only resonate if we understand the history.
The Current State of Black Head Coaches
As of October 18, 2025, only 13 out of 136 NCAA FBS head coaches are Black. While this number may seem low, James Franklin notes that it is an increase from the six Black head coaches in college football when Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith faced off in Super Bowl XLI in 2007. Franklin emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for aspiring coaches to get in front of athletic directors and search firms. Studies from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports (TIDES) show that approximately 54.3% of the student-athletes on NCAA FBS teams are African American (as of 2018). Census data from 2015 estimates that Blacks represent 13.3% of America’s population. As of January 28, 2023, 7 of 32 NFL head coaches are Black, representing 21.9% of the league. According to 2022 NFL participation by race figures gathered by Statista, over 56% of its players identify as black, and only 24.9% identify as white. Kudos to the NFL owners who so far have hired three more Black head coaches in 2024.
Here is a list of Black head coaches in NCAA Division I FBS:
- Fran Brown (Syracuse)
- Kenni Burns (Kent State)
- Tony Elliott (Virginia)
- Deshaun Foster (UCLA)
- James Franklin (Penn State)
- Marcus Freeman (Notre Dame)
- Thomas Hammock (Northern Illinois)
- Charles Huff (Southern Mississippi)
- Mike Locksley (Maryland)
- Jerry Mack (Kennesaw State)
- Derek Mason (Middle Tennessee State)
- Sherrone Moore (Michigan)
- Jay Norvell (Colorado State)
- Deion Sanders (Colorado)
- Willie Simmons (Florida International)
- Lance Taylor (Western Michigan)
Breaking Barriers: Firsts and Milestones
Willie E. Jeffries holds the distinction of being the first Black head coach in NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) football, hired by Wichita State University in 1979. Jeffries served as the Shockers’ head coach for five seasons (‘79 through ’83), posting his best season in 1982, when the Shockers went 8 -3 and finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference. Before his stint at WSU, Jeffries was a head coach at a historically black college/university (HBCU), South Carolina State University (’73 to ’78). Willie E. Jeffries was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010. During his distinguished 29-year career as a college head football coach, he was the first African-American head football coach at an NCAA Division IA program.
Marcus Freeman, the head coach of Notre Dame, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Black head coach to lead a team to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. After winning in the Orange Bowl semifinal Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame squad will play for its first national title since 1988. Freeman is one of 16 Black head coaches in the NCAA's Division I FBS, and Monday's game is the first time a Black head coach will have a chance at a national title. As such, Freeman's presence at the game is historic in itself. A win would be even greater.
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The Significance of Representation
Both James Franklin and Marcus Freeman acknowledge the importance of their positions as role models. When Freeman was asked, he made sure to note that he is also half-Korean, a nod to his mother. But he also understands the significance of the moment. "It's a reminder that you are a representation for so many others that look like you, and I don't take that for granted," Freeman said. "I'm going to work tirelessly to be the best version of me, and it's great, because even the guys in our program can understand, 'Don't put a ceiling on what you can be and what you can do.'" Now, with that being said, it's not about me. It's about us. More than anything, I want to achieve team glory with this program."
Franklin said it reminded him of Super Bowl XLI between Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith in 2007, the first Super Bowl featuring Black head coaches. Franklin was the offensive coordinator at Kansas State at the time, coaching for Ron Prince, another Black head coach."I remember thinking that, as a coach, how significant that was in the profession, and how significant that was for young coaches coming up in the profession, to see those guys in that role," Franklin said. "I also remember, at that time, there were a lot of conversations about, 'Will this impact the profession? Will this impact opportunities for guys?'"
Overcoming Stereotypes and Bias
Historically, Black coaches have faced stereotypes that limited their opportunities. For most of the century-plus history of college football, Black coaches were not seen as tacticians or strategists. They could recruit Black talent, they could “relate” to and inspire players. But to think, execute, win with intelligence instead of athleticism? Overcoming these biases requires Black coaches to demonstrate their strategic acumen and leadership abilities consistently.
An example of this is during Notre Dame’s quarterfinal victory over Georgia. Up 23-10 with 7:17 left in the game, Freeman’s team was facing fourth-and-1 on its own 18-yard line. The Irish lined up to punt - and then the punt team sprinted off the field, replaced by an offense that seemed ready to go for the first down. Georgia, clearly caught off guard, scrambled to get its defense back on the field, but was drawn offsides by the chaos Freeman created. “That right there is all head coaching. That is all on Marcus Freeman being creative,” said color commentator Greg McElroy on the ESPN broadcast.
The Importance of Opportunity and Support
John Thompson, a tireless advocate for justice and the first Black coach to win the NCAA basketball championship, said in the autobiography I helped him write that “to be truly free, we must have the freedom not to be successful.” What he meant, in a sports context, is that there are plenty of white coaches who get hired despite mediocre qualifications, or don’t win consistently and still enjoy long careers. History shows that when Black coaches do get a chance to lead the top programs, they don’t have much time to win.
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The expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to twelve has also created more opportunities for different programs to compete at the highest level. Neither Freeman nor Franklin would be contending for a national title without the expansion of the playoff this year, from four teams to 12. History shows that college football - and America in general - has unfairly hoarded influence and opportunity among a privileged few, while claiming it was a meritocracy and telling everyone else they weren’t good enough. Adding more teams doesn’t give Notre Dame or Penn State a “break” - it balances advantages that have been structurally baked into the system.
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