Stacked Against Them: Racial Stacking and Wage Inequality in College Football Coaching

• In Event: 30420 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Racial Capitalism, Employment, Organizations

Abstract

Racial disparities have been observed across many sports, with minority athletes excluded from central positions that enjoy greater power and pay. We know less, however, about whether these patterns persist beyond playing careers into coaching positions. One perspective suggests that racial patterns among coaching roles will match what we see on the field because the coaching pool is made up of former players. Other theories argue that there will be less pronounced racial patterns in coaching because the stakes of making the wrong hire in coaching are so high. A final perspective argues that there will be even more pronounced racial discrimination in coaching because the thinking concerning intellect and leadership that created racial disparities among players are even more likely to be assumed for coaches. To test these ideas, we use data on college football coaches and salaries for the 2023-2024 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision season. Using publicly available data and statistical analysis, we investigate how racial stacking, historically observed among athletes, extends to coaching positions and compensation. Our findings reveal that Black coaches have been disproportionately assigned to lower-paying coaching roles, while white coaches dominate in higher-paid leadership positions.

Authors

• Alesandro Martinez, Brigham Young University-Provo

• Travis Bradley Carter, Brigham Young University-Provo

• Caleb Etienne, BYU