League pushing for more minority hirings

Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003 | 9:49 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The NFL has issued 10 guidelines it hopes will strengthen its year-old policy that at least one minority candidate be interviewed for each head coaching vacancy, the New York Times reported today.

A memo sent by the league's committee on workplace diversity dated Dec. 1 and obtained by the Times lists several provisions for interviewing coaching candidates. These include documenting each interview that is conducted, eliminating telephone-only interviews and involving the team's owner in interviewing finalists for the job.

The memo said exceptions will be made if the team has a prior contractual agreement with a member of its coaching staff to become the head coach and files it with the league office when it is signed.

Penalties for failing to follow the guidelines could include fines or loss of draft picks.

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who is chairman of the committee, said the guidelines will increase the number of head coaches who are minorities, and help to build relationships between owners and minority candidates.

There are three black coaches in the NFL: Indianapolis' Tony Dungy, Herman Edwards of the New York Jets and first-year Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis.