African-Americans
FILE - In this Dec. 22, 1961, file photo, Cleveland Pipers coach John McLendon, right, greets Dick Barnett, in Cleveland. When George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis policeman, Harvard basketball coach Tommy Amaker knew it was time to get to work. Kentucky college basketball coach John Calipari and Harvard coach Tommy Amaker partnered on an internship program named for John McLendon, one of basketball’s first black coaches. (AP Photo/File)
For Harvard coach Tommy Amaker, class is always in session

By Jimmy Golen Nov. 10, 2020 01:41 PM EST

Merritt Norvell, first Black AD at Michigan State, has died

Oct. 21, 2020 06:29 PM EDT
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Merritt Norvell Jr., the first Black athletic director at Michigan State, has died. He was 79. A spokesman at...

FILE - In this March 12, 2017, file photo, Texas State coach Danny Kaspar reacts during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Troy for the Sun Belt tournament title in New Orleans. Kaspar, the former Texas State basketball coach who resigned while under investigation for allegations he directed racist taunts at Black players, said he holds “only love in my heart for people of all races, colors and creeds” in a resignation letter released Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, by the school. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Former Texas State coach Kaspar denies allegations of racism

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 14, 2020 08:21 PM EDT

Ronnie Hogue dies, UGa's 1st Black scholarship hoops player

Sep. 18, 2020 06:36 PM EDT
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Ronnie Hogue, the first Black scholarship athlete on the Georgia Bulldogs men's basketball team, died Friday, the school announced. He was...

CORRECTS THAT THE GAME WAS AGAINST ST. JOHNS FOR THE BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP, NOT AGAINST HOUSTON FOR THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP - FILE - In this March 9, 1985, file photo, Georgetown NCAA college basketball head coach John Thompson poses with player Patrick Ewing after Georgetown defeated St. John's in the Big East Championship in New York. John Thompson, the imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball championship, has died. He was 78 His death was announced in a family statement Monday., Aug. 31, 2020. No details were disclosed.(AP Photo/File)
John Thompson spoke truth to power 'when it was hard to do'

By Jim Litke Sep. 01, 2020 03:01 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 9, 2013, file photo, former Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr., left, congratulates his son Georgetown head coach John Thompson III, right, after the Hoya's 61-39 win over Syracuse in an NCAA college basketball game in Washington. John Thompson, the imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball championship, has died. He was 78 His death was announced in a family statement Monday., Aug. 31, 2020. No details were disclosed. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
Coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown dead at 78

By Joseph White Aug. 31, 2020 10:20 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 7, 2020, file photo, South Carolina head coach Frank Martin talks to Jermaine Couisnard (5) and Alanzo Frink (20) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. Martin is joining dozens of college basketball coaches in taking action on racism and diversity. The NABC announced Martin would chair a new committee designed to address issues of race and discrimination and not only within college sports. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
College hoops coaches move to eliminate standardized testing

By Dave Skretta Jul. 16, 2020 03:58 PM EDT

Syracuse University appoints diversity director for sports

By John Kekis Jul. 10, 2020 02:01 AM EDT
Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack has added a position to his department, bucking a trend toward athletic cuts during the coronavirus pandemic. ...

College coaches recommend required Black history courses

Jun. 22, 2020 12:47 PM EDT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The new committee formed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to address racism and diversity recommended Monday that high...

FILE - In this March 7, 2020, file photo, South Carolina head coach Frank Martin talks to Jermaine Couisnard (5) and Alanzo Frink (20) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. Martin is joining dozens of college basketball coaches in taking action on racism and diversity. The NABC announced Martin would chair a new committee designed to address issues of race and discrimination and not only within college sports. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
College basketball coaches discuss racism, diversity

By Dave Skretta Jun. 05, 2020 05:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 12, 2017, file photo, Texas State coach Danny Kaspar reacts during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Troy for the Sun Belt tournament title in New Orleans. Texas State ordered an investigation Friday, June 5, 2020, into a former basketball player's allegations of racist remarks by coach Danny Kaspar. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Texas State investigates racial abuse claims against coach

Jun. 05, 2020 01:10 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 7, 2019, file photo, Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Florida, in Atlanta. In the wake of nationwide protests over police brutality, Georgia Tech wants to make sure its athletes take time to vote in November. The school said Thursday, June 4, 2020, that nine teams, including football, will cancel all mandatory activities on the Nov. 3 to recognize the importance of casting a ballot. Geoff Collins was one of the first Power Five football coaches to express his support for those protesting the treatment of George Floyd, who died while in police custody in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jon Barash, File)
Georgia Tech athletes get day off to vote on Election Day

By Paul Newberry Jun. 04, 2020 11:35 AM EDT

Historically black schools hit hard by academic penalties

By John Zenor May. 20, 2020 04:01 PM EDT
. (AP) — Historically black colleges and universities have once again been hit disproportionately hard with NCAA-imposed penalties based on Academic Progress...

Study: racial graduation-rate gap grows for men's NCAA teams

By Aaron Beard Apr. 01, 2020 03:08 PM EDT
A diversity report for graduation rates among potential NCAA Tournament teams found a larger gap between white and black men’s players from the previous year,...

Street by Vanderbilt basketball gym named for Perry Wallace

Feb. 22, 2020 05:36 PM EST
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The first black basketball player on scholarship in the Southeastern Conference now has a street named after him outside of Vanderbilt...

Vanderbilt interim athletic director Candice Lee answers questions during a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. Former athletic director Malcolm Turner resigned Tuesday, Feb. 4, after one year at the school. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Interim AD focused only on Vandy coaches, players, staff

By Teresa M. Walker Feb. 05, 2020 09:20 PM EST

Arkansas college finds no evidence of bias over dreadlocks

Sep. 12, 2019 02:43 PM EDT
FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) — An investigation found no evidence that a white head coach discriminated against a black basketball player because of his dreadlocks, the...

Former NBA basketball player and coach Bob Cousy, of the Boston Celtics, pauses while speaking as President Donald Trump stands, during a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony for Cousy, in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Trump awards Medal of Freedom to NBA star Bob Cousy

By Kali Robinson Aug. 22, 2019 02:37 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 27, 2015, file photo, Minnesota Vikings chief operating officer Kevin Warren poses for a photo before an NFL football game against the New York Giants, in Minneapolis. The Big Ten hired Minnesota Vikings executive Kevin Warren as its new commissioner Tuesday, June 4, 2019, bringing on a former college basketball player and sports agent with a law degree from Notre Dame to replace Jim Delany and become the first black commissioner of a Power Five conference. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt, File)
Big Ten taps Vikings' Kevin Warren as new commissioner

By Andrew Seligman Jun. 04, 2019 12:11 PM EDT

First black official in Atlantic Coast Conference dies

May. 20, 2019 04:54 PM EDT
APEX, N.C. (AP) — Jim Burch was the first black man to officiate a basketball game in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but one of the men he taught to follow in his...