The 1960s brought turbulence and opportunity to all aspects of Black life, and the sports world was no exception. Black coaches had to function in a space that considered them inferior. Of course, these coaches dispelled that lie – and changed the entire sport forever!
#1: Eddie Robinson
He was often referred to as the MLK of College Football. Not only was he one of the best coaches in the history of the game, but Robinson also fought the racism Black athletes and coaches faced. How did he do it? He won games – more than any other coach in history.
#2: John Merritt
While it’s true Merritt was a successful coach who won games, it’s also true that he made a huge contribution to the game of football. He invented an entirely new field formation that helped numerous teams win games.
#3: Jake Gaither
This coach was a risk-taker on and off the field. Fed up with lies about Black inferiority, he arranged the first integrated football game in the nation – his HBCU team against a white team. And guess what? His team won.
Black coaches challenged a college football system that considered our people inferior. These coaches, as well as Deion Sanders, remind us that white exceptionalism is a lie and that we are not inferior to white people in any shape, form or fashion!