The NFL has the Bill Walsh Minority Fellowship program, and has explored a number of other avenues to promote equal opportunities for underrepresented coaches to grow in the profession and a few years back Mike Locksley and a handful of other coaches banded together to create the National Coalition for Minority Coaches.
Year after year we all talk about how more should be done to give minority coaches opportunities at the highest levels, and we've stepped up to try and do our part with our annual Minority Rising Stars list.
One coach is taking matters into his own hands, by funding an opportunity on his staff out of his own pocket.
Jay Norvell, who grew up the son of a trailblazer of an athletic director as Merritt Norvell went from a job at IBM to running the athletic department at Michigan State, is taking a page from his father's book.
The release shares that Jay, along with his wife Kim, will fund the Dr. Merritt Norvell Minority Fellowship with the football program, paying for the salary and all benefits for a young coach looking to gain experience for the entire season.
“That’s the hardest thing. There are so many limited spots for young coaches,” Jay shared in the school's release.
“We have four graduate assistant positions. He have three analyst positions. It’s hard for guys to get started. A lot of guys want to get started, they just don’t have the opportunity, and I have to tell former players every year we don’t’ have anything. This is another way to create an opportunity for somebody.
“My father really had a heart for community, and he had a heart for helping people. Basically, I have spent my life trying to fill his shoes, like many sons do. It’s a way to honor him in giving back. This does mean a lot to me to be able to honor my dad and all the great things he did for so many people.”
Merritt founded the NCAA Minority Development program, which Jay took part in along with other big names in today's college football landscape like James Franklin and Mike Locksley.
So what sparked the decision to dig into his own pockets to create this opportunity?
Along with the clear influence of his father and honoring his memory, Norvell had also recently received a touching text from a former assistant who reached out to thank him for the opportunity to learn and grow on his staff and how that changed his life.
Norvell responded with a simple message, responding "Pay it back by doing it for somebody else."
Ironically, Norvell has found a creative way to take his own advice in a way that will have a lasting impact for years to come.
Jay shares in the school's recent release that he's committed to make this new position available for as long as he is a head coach and every coach on staff will have a hand in providing a full look at the profession.
Here's to hoping that more high profile coaches, who are - in most cases) - the highest (or among the highest) paid public employees in their respective states, follow Norvell's lead with this one.
“It’s just a small way really, but that’s the only way you can make a change is in your world with the people you touch. Maybe some other coaches will see this, and they’ll think about doing a similar thing.
"The future is our young coaches. Anything I can do to help to pay back the opportunities to pay back what I got I’ll do that.”
Head here to read the school's full release.