An Analysis of Racial Tasking and other Sport Management Theories through the Lived Experiences of Black College Football Coaches

The purpose of this study was to explore Black coaches’ (N = 17) perceptions of the academic research that purports to shed light on their experiences in college football. In sharing their lived experiences, coaches discussed the racial inequalities they have and continue to overcome to enter, remain, and advance in coaching; considered the existence and influence of racial tasking; and provided their thoughts on sport management research. In doing so, they remarked about many of the racialized barriers and disparate outcomes which we have hypothesized, analyzed, interpreted, and written about in our academic work. Implications from this study provide practical insight into the structural and pervasive logics leading to and upholding the marginalization and underrepresentation of Black coaches in college football, and inform scholars as to the practical legitimacy and application of racial tasking, as well as other sport-specific theories, conceptualizations, and manifestations of institutional discrimination and systemic racism. By collaborating with Black college football coaches, we have helped to amplify their voices and further bridge the gap that presently exists between scholars and practitioners.