#pac 12

In the realm of sports, the treatment of black women coaches vs men coaches often falls under the microscope. Their decisions have a profound impact on athletes’ careers. Recently, two high-profile coaching situations have thrust into the spotlight the issue of a double standard for black women coaches vs men coaches. The termination of the Grambling State University volleyball coach, Chelsey Lucas, as reported by ESPN, and the sweeping roster changes orchestrated by Coach Prime Deion Sanders at Colorado, as reported by USA Today, provide compelling examples of the gender disparities experienced by black women and men in coaching roles. As we delve into these cases, we’ll explore the intricate dynamics surrounding the double standard for black women coaches versus men coaches in the sports arena. For more insightful content on community empowerment and unity, we invite you to visit Afrofusionist.com

Chelsey Lucas: A Controversial Decision

Chelsey Lucas, a former Grambling State University volleyball player and 2006 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, was appointed as the head coach of the Grambling State Tigers’ volleyball team in February 2022. However, her tenure was marred by controversy just months after her hiring. Lucas made the unprecedented decision to cut all 12 returning scholarship players from the team, a move that shocked and disappointed many players and fans alike.

Lucas defended her decision, citing NCAA rules that do not guarantee scholarships and argued that coaches have the power to make such changes to advance their programs. Grambling State’s initial support of Lucas’s decision only further fueled the debate. However, it’s essential to note that this decision led to an independent review of the allegations surrounding the program, leaving the situation unresolved.

Deion Sanders: A Roster Overhaul at Colorado

In contrast, Deion Sanders aka Coach Prime, the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes football team, embarked on a radical roster overhaul in his first year in charge. Sanders, who took the helm after the team’s dismal 1-11 season, wasted no time in making significant changes. This overhaul led to at least 37 scholarship players entering the transfer portal, accounting for 83.5% of the team’s scholarship players.

Sanders justified his decision by comparing it to “cleaning out old furniture” to make room for new recruits. He brought in a substantial number of transfer players, creating a transfer class that ranked number one in the nation. What’s striking is the swiftness and scope of Sanders’ actions, with injured and returning players being shown the door.

The Double Standard Question

The stark difference in the treatment of Chelsey Lucas and Coach Prime in their coaching roles raises questions about whether there is a double standard for black women coaches as opposed to black men coaches. Lucas’s decision to cut scholarship players was met with scrutiny and an ongoing investigation, while Sanders’s massive roster overhaul was largely accepted as a necessary step to improve the team.

It’s important to acknowledge the complexities of each situation and the unique challenges faced by coaches in different sports. However, the contrasting responses to Lucas and Sanders suggest that Black women coaches may encounter more resistance and scrutiny when making bold decisions compared to their male counterparts.

Final Thoughts

This is literally disgusting.

David Cobb at CBS Sports:

Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich has been fired for cause after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine and being noncompliant with both state and university policies, the university announced Monday evening. Rolovich sought, and appears to have been denied, a religious exemption from those mandates, which required employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18 if they wished to continue working.

Four Washington State assistant coaches have also been terminated: Ricky Logo (defensive tackles), John Richardson (assistant head coach, cornerbacks), Craig Stutzmann (co-offensive coordinator, quarterbacks) and Mark Weber (offensive line).

Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert will serve as the team's interim coach.

[...]

The saga over Rolovich's vaccination status first took public stage in July when the second-year coach announced he would participate remotely in the Pac-12's football media day. The league required in-person participants to be vaccinated.

"I have elected not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for reasons which will remain private," Rolovich said in a statement at the time.

Rolovich later said he was not "against" vaccinations, adding that he respected and supported "all the work being done by the state of Washington, who as a state has one of the highest percentages of vaccinations in the country." In August, he stated that he planned on following the mandate instituted by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Even if he were to have received an exemption to the state mandate, Rolovich still faced hurdles at Washington State, which enacted a vaccination requirement for employees before a similar policy for all state employees went into effect.

"It certainly skews the perception of our message," Washington State University president Kirk Schulz told the New York Times. "At most universities, people pay attention to what the university president, the football coach, the basketball coach and the athletic director have to say -- that's just the reality. People look at them for leadership because they're highly visible and highly compensated. It doesn't help when you have people who are contrary to the direction we're going."