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PRESS RELEASE

Dec. 3, 2020

COLLEGE INSIDER AND COLLEGE COACHES ESTABLISH NEW SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT

Top NCAA coaches committed to bringing forth change through education, awareness, and action.

BOSTON, MA – College Insider, Inc. is pleased to announce the creation of “Eracism,” a social inclusion movement committed to bringing forth change through education, awareness, and action with current and former college basketball coaches leading the way.

“I am very excited to have played a role in helping to create this project,” said Gary Stewart, head men’s basketball coach at Stevenson University and Vice President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). “We wanted to create something that is both diverse and sustainable. We have an outstanding group of people on the committee and I look forward to getting to work on Eracism.”

Stewart, along with Joe Dwyer (College Insider, Inc.), Arthur Hightower (Los Angeles Chargers) and Angela Lento (College Insider, Inc.) are the creative forces behind the Eracism project. The mission is to educate and create awareness through athletics.

One of the first initiatives is “This Game is No Secret,” which would designate one weekend each season to pay homage to Coach John McLendon.

A legend in the profession, McLendon became the first African American coach to win an integrated national championship. His team went on to win the NAIA Division I Men's Tournament in 1957, 1958 and 1959, making him the first coach in history to win three consecutive NAIA championships. He received full enshrinement in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.

In 2012 CollegeInsider.com established the Coach John McLendon Award, which is presented annually to the top coach in Collegiate Basketball. In 2016 the inaugural Coach McLendon Classic was played in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The game was created to showcase Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Both participating teams wore t-shirts with the words “This Game is No Secret,” to bring attention to the “Secret Game,” which Coach McLendon’s team played at Duke University in 1944. His revolutionary fastbreak style overwhelmed Duke, in an 88-44 victory.

Other initiatives include recognizing the pioneers and trailblazers of the game and to help create more opportunities for minorities in coaching. Currently there are only eleven black head coaches at Power 5 schools. Just 11 of the 65 head coaches in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC are African American.

The committee includes Chris Beard (Texas), Mike Boynton (Oklahoma State), Chris Holtmann (Ohio State), Justin Hutson (Fresno State), Donte' Jackson (Grambling), James Jones (Yale), Robert Jones (Norfolk State), Bob Marlin (Louisiana), Eugene Marshall (Hampton), Ritchie McKay (Liberty), Ryan Odom (Utah State) and Kelvin Sampson (Houston).

Eracism was created by Joe Dwyer (College Insider, Inc.), Arthur Hightower (Los Angeles Chargers), Angela Lento (College Insider, Inc.) and Gary Stewart (Stevenson University and Vice President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches).

ERACISM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHRIS BEARD University of Texas

MIKE BOYNTON Oklahoma State

JOE DWYER College Insider, Inc.

ARTHUR HIGHTOWER LA Chargers

MONIQUE HOLLAND Northwestern

CHRIS HOLTMANN Ohio State

ANGELA LENTO College Insider, Inc.

GENE MARSHALL Hampton University

JACQIE MCWILLIAMS CIAA

RYAN ODOM Utah State

KELVIN SAMPSON Houston

GARY STEWART Stevenson University

NATALIE WHITE Los Angeles Sparks

WILLIS WILSON Victory Sports, LLC

RICH ZVOSEC Central Florida

MISSION STATEMENT

America is a socially diverse nation that continues to make progress against racism through education, and creating awareness through enhanced dialogue. ERACISM is committed to bringing forth change through education, awareness, and action because we can no longer just sit on the sidelines.

THE 4 PILLARS FOR CHANGE

1. CONVERSATION: It’s simple and the most necessary part of the process. We need to listen to one another and have constructive dialogue. The loudest voice in the room isn’t always heard.

2. EDUCATION: Knowing what has already happened is essential to making sure that is does not happen again. We need educate one another, ask questions and know our past so that history does not repeat itself.

3. COMMUNITY: A commitment to change begins in our local communities. Before we can bring forth change on a national level, we need to promote change and make a difference in our cities, towns and neighborhoods.

4. RECONCILIATION: Justice is the conclusion to the act, but reconciliation fixes behavior. Simply put, society needs both.

INITIATIVE #1

The Executive Committee of ERACISM has formed a panel to advocate and promote minority coaches in college basketball. The panel will work directly with athletic departments s and the national search firms with the goal of getting more minority coaches involved in the interview process and ultimately securing jobs.

One of the biggest obstacles, facing deserving candidates, is getting the opportunity to interview for head coach openings. It is difficult to get hired if you are unable to get an interview. There is a disproportionate number of minority coaches at all levels of college basketball.

Currently there are just 14 black head coaches at Power 5 schools. Just 14 of the 65 head coaches in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC are African American. Mike Boynton (Oklahoma State), Hubert Davis (North Carolina), Jeff Capel (Pittsburgh), Leonard Hamilton (Florida State), Juwan Howard (Michigan), Ben Johnson (Minnesota), Kevin Keatts (NC State), Dennis Gates (Missouri), Lamont Paris (South Carolina), Kenny Payne (Louisville), Micah Shrewsberry (Penn State), Jerry Stackhouse (Vanderbilt), Jerome Tang (Kansas State) and Mike Woodson (Indiana) are currently the only African American head coaches at a Power 5 school.

There were only 8 minority coaches at Power 5 schools before ERACISM was established in December of 2020.

INITIATIVE #2

In 2012 CollegeInsider.com established the Coach John McLendon Award, which is presented annually the top coach in Collegiate Basketball. In 2016 the inaugural Coach McLendon Classic was played in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). The game was created to showcase Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Both participating teams wore t-shirts with the words “This Game is No Secret,” to bring attention to the “Secret Game,” which Coach McLendon’s team played at Duke University in 1944. His revolutionary fastbreak style overwhelmed Duke, in an 88-44 victory.

The 2nd Annual “This Game is No Secret” event will run from Jan. 31-Feb. 6. Teams across the country will honor the legacy of Coach McLendon by wearing t-shirts with those words five words -- THIS GAME IS NO SECRET. The idea is to make this an annual event. It is an opportunity for players, coaches, and fans to learn more about Coach McLendon who is one of the greatest coaches in basketball history.

THE SECRET GAME

In 1944, coach John McLendon at the North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central) felt he had one of the best teams in the nation. The Eagles routinely defeated their opponents by lopsided margins. Only, there was no way for McLendon to know how his team in Durham, North Carolina stacked up against the nation’s other heavyweights. The Eagles, like other black colleges, were banned from competing in the NCAA tournament and the NIT.

Across town, the Duke University Blue Devils won the Southern Conference championship that year, but they were hardly the best team on campus. Rather, another all-white squad on campus, the Medical School intramural team, was plowing through its opposition. These former college basketball stars from across the nation were at Duke because the Army and Navy had started World War II training programs there.

Despite Jim Crow laws that banned interaction, the YMCA chapters from Duke and North Carolina College had begun to meet on occasion in 1943, according to Scott Ellsworth’s book, the Secret Game (published in 2015). During one of these meetings, a Duke student was boasting about the Medical School team’s excellence. From this conversation, a game was born.

McLendon, the legendary coach who revolutionized the game with an up-tempo style and fastbreak offense, wanted to see how his team would fare. He set up the game in the North Carolina College gym. (The basketball arena at North Carolina Central is now named in his honor). He arranged a referee and scorekeeper. A black reporter who found out agreed not to write about it, and McLendon scheduled the game for a Sunday morning, March 12th, when most of Durham - including the police force - would be attending church. There were no spectators.

After a nervous start from both teams, the Eagles hit their stride. Their frenetic pace and fastbreak offense overwhelmed the squad from Duke, no different than other opponents. The Eagles won the game 88-44. Following a short break, players from the two teams mixed their squads and scrimmaged again.

No other news reporters or local police learned about the game until years later. A scorecard does not exist. Without question, the Secret Game was a landmark event, and within the next 25 years, college basketball was racially integrated in the south, due in part to the courage of those who arranged and participated in this game.

By Scott Ellsworth – Published in New York Times Magazine – March 31, 1996

POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT

The Basketball Classic presented by Eracism, a 32-team tournament open to deserving teams not selected to participate in the NCAA tournament or NIT, will debut this March, creating another bracket to follow and giving student-athletes across the country an opportunity to participate in the postseason and compete for a championship.

The Basketball Classic field will be announced after the field for the NIT is released on March 13. The tournament will begin on Monday, March 14 with the semifinals scheduled for Tuesday, March 29th and the Championship Game on Thursday, March 31st.

Each game of the Basketball Classic will be held on the campus of one of the participating schools. All gate receipts will be collected by the Basketball Classic, enabling a wider range of schools to participate. Schools can host Classic games without the responsibility of an additional financial commitment.

CLICK HERE to read the entire Press Release

MORE INITIATIVES

In addition to working to get more African American coaches hired, the committee wants to immediately begin an effort to promote coaches and players through awards named after some of the legends of the game.

THE HBCU LEGENDS AWARDS

The five new awards are named after legendary HBCU players and will highlight the top players in all levels of college basketball. The objective is to recognize the top student athletes in college basketball, while bringing long overdue attention to some of the best players to ever play the game.

One of the primary goals of ERACISM is to educate today’s fans on the stars of the past and the HBCU Legends Awards will shine a light on players like Kentucky State’s Travis Grant who is College Basketball’s all-time leading scorer. Thus, the Travis Grant Award will annually honor the top scorer in all levels of college basketball. The Zelmo Beaty Award will highlight the nation’s top shot blocker, the Marques Haynes Award will recognize the leader in steals, the Cleo Hill Award will highlight college basketball’s leader in assists, and the Willis Reed Award will be presented annually to the top rebounder in college basketball.

The top 5 for each award will be updated throughout the season and posted weekly so fans can follow along with the statistical leaders for all five awards.

The awards will include eligible players from Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA collegiate basketball who play in at least 60% of their team’s games. Scoring, rebounds, and assists will be per game averages, while blocks and steals will be cumulative totals.

The awards will be presented at the conclusion of the college basketball season.

Zelmo Beaty Award

Nicknamed “Big Z” Zelmo Beaty was a force at both ends of the floor during his career at Prairie View A&M University (1958–1962), averaging 25 points and 20 rebounds per game in four seasons. He was a two-time first team NAIA All-American and led the Panthers to an NAIA National Championship in 1962. The Zelmo Beaty Award will be presented annually to the player with the most blocked shots in college basketball.

Travis Grant Award

Known as the “Machine Gun” Travis Grant was part of three consecutive NAIA National Championships in four seasons at Kentucky State University (1968-72). As a sophomore he set a school single-game record with 75 points and averaged 35.4 per game while shooting a ridiculous 70% from the field. He never shot less than 60 percent in any of his four seasons. As a senior he averaged 39.5 points per game and became the first small college player to win the Lapchick Trophy for College Basketball Player of the Year award. He graduated as the all-time and all-division scoring leader in college basketball history with 4,045 points. The Travis Grant Award will be presented annually to the player with the highest per-game scoring average.

Marques Haynes Award

A wizard with the basketball, Marques Haynes had a stellar career at Langston University (1942–1946). During his four seasons, the Lions recorded an incredible 112-3 record, which included a 59-game winning streak. He led Langston in scoring all four years and was a four-time All-Conference selection. In 1946 Haynes and Langston upset the Harlem Globetrotters in an exhibition game. One year later Haynes was part of the famed Globetrotters. The Marques Haynes Award will be presented annually to the player with the most total steals in college basketball.

Cleo Hill Award

In four seasons at Winston-Salem Teachers College (1957–1961), which is now known as Winston-Salem State, Cleo Hill averaged an impressive 25.4 per game making him the second-highest scorer in program history. Playing for the legendary Clarence “Big House” Gaines, Hill helped the Rams to consecutive Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles in his final two seasons. He was a two-time All-CIAA selection and named first-team NAIA All-American as a senior in 1961. The Cleo Hill Award will be presented annually to the player with the highest per-game assist average.

Willis Reed Award

During his four seasons at Grambling State University (1960–1964), Willis Reed helped the Tigers to three Southwestern Athletic Conference championships and an NAIA National Championship in 1961. Known for his inside presence, the two-time All-American also had a lethal jump shot. In his senior season he averaged 26.6 points and 21.3 rebounds per game. The Willis Reed Award will be presented annually to the player with the highest per-game rebounding average.

ALREADY HAPPENING

Visit Award Website

The BEN JOBE NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR award was established in 2010. The award is presented annually to the top Division I minority coach. Coach Jobe is an icon in the history of basketball at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is best known as the head coach of the Southern University, a position he held for 12 seasons. He was also head coach at Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Talladega, Tuskegee and South Carolina State, winning 434 games in his career.

His record at Southern was 209-141 and included four NCAA Tournament appearances. Perhaps his most memorable moment as a coach was leading No. 15 seed Southern to a 93-78 win over No. 2 Georgia Tech in the first round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. It stands as one of the great upsets in the history of the event. He also coached the Jaguars to one NIT appearance.

Visit Award Website

The CLARENCE “BIG HOUSE” GAINES NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR award was established in 2011. The award is presented annually to the top head coach in Division II college basketball. One of the true legends of all-time, Gaines retired from Winston-Salem State University in 1993 with a record of 828-446. At the time he was the winningest active basketball coach in NCAA history. Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

During his 47-year tenure as coach and athletic director at WSSU he coached professional basketball greats Cleo Hill (first African-American from an historically Black college and university to be drafted No. 1 by the National Basketball Association, St. Louis Hawks, 1961) and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe.

Visit Award Website

The COACH JOHN MCLENDON NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR award was established in 2012. A trailblazer and one of the true great men to ever coach the game, Coach McLendon became the first African American coach to win an integrated national championship. His team went on to win the NAIA Division I Men's Tournament in 1957, 1958 and 1959, making him the first coach in history to win three consecutive national championships.

In 1962 he became the first African American head coach in a major professional league (ABL) with the Cleveland Pipers. In 1966 he became the first African American head coach of predominantly white university, when he took over the Cleveland State program.

In 1969, McLendon was hired by the Denver Rockets and became the first African American head coach in the American Basketball Association. After a brief stint with the Rockets, McLendon ended his 25-year professional coaching career with a winning percentage of .760 and a lifetime career record of 523 victories and 165 losses.

Coach McLendon was also the first African American to serve as an assistant coach for the United States Olympic basketball team. He was part of the coaching staff for the both the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and the games in Munich in 1972.

In 2016 the COACH JOHN MCLENDON CLASSIC became a permanent part of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. South Carolina State and Grand Canyon played in the inaugural classic, which was broadcast on CBS Sports Network. It marked the first time in NCAA basketball history that a “classic” was part of a postseason tournament. The game was created to showcase Historically Black Colleges and Universities and pay tribute to Coach McLendon.

In 2019 Hampton became the first HBCU program to win the Coach McLendon Classic. History was made again when Hampton, along with Texas Southern, advanced to the 2019 CIT semifinals. It was the first time in Division I NCAA history that two HBCUs advanced to the semifinals of a postseason tournament in the same year.

THE COMMITTEE

Mark Adams ESPN

Kevin Baggett Rider

Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes * Gulf South Conference

Mike Balado Arkansas State

Kenny Blakeney * Howard

Milan Brown Pittsburgh

Dave Calloway Former NCAA Coach

Chris Carlson UCLA

Tim Carter * Former NCAA Coach

Bobby Champagne Houston

Tom Conrad Washington Wizards

Jason Crafton UMES

Chris Croft * Southern Mississippi

Eric Eaton Saint Michael’s

Jim Engles * Columbia

Joe Gallo Merrimack

Kris Gardner Houston Roundball Review

Mike Gillian IMG Academy

Andre Gray * Elizabeth City State

Ronnie Hamilton LSU

Bobby Height Vice President CSE

Cleo Hill, Jr. * Winston Salem State

Jason Hooten Sam Houston

Michael Huger Bowling Green

Justin Hutson Fresno State

Donte' Jackson Grambling State

James Jones * Yale

Robert Jones * Norfolk State

Will Jones North Carolina A&T

Jamie Kachmarik * Former NCAA Coach

Greg Kampe Oakland

Greg Lansing * Former NCAA Coach

Shantay Legans Portland

Mikey Magpayo * UC Riverside

Bob Marlin * Louisiana

Ingrid Wicker McCree NCCU

Ritchie McKay Liberty

Brock Morris Ole Miss

Brian Mull * College Insider, Inc.

Ryan Odom Utah State

Rob O’Driscoll Maine

David Patrick * Sacramento State

Kyle Perry Limestone

Vann Pettaway Former NCAA Coach

Brett Reed Lehigh

Ashley Robinson Jackson State

Kellen Sampson Houston

Mike Schrage Elon

Mike Scutero Former NCAA Coach

Rob Senderoff Kent State

Todd Simon Southern Utah

April Taylor * The SVE Firm

Larry Vickers Norfolk State

Scott Wagers South Florida

Melody Webb Norfolk State

James Wilhelmi * Former NCAA Coach

Marcus Wilson * Evansville

*Executive Committee

#MISSIONERACISM

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Created By
Angel Dwyer
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