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Altman, Pac-12 Colleagues Support Initiative For Young Minority Leaders
07/13/20 | Men's Basketball
The Pac-12's men's basketball coaches will provide both mentorship and financial support to the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative.
Oregon men's basketball coach Dana Altman and his 11 colleagues from around the Pac-12 Conference have pledged their support for a new initiative designed to help up-and-coming minority candidates in collegiate athletics.
Altman and the other conference coaches each have pledged up to $33,000 annually and will provide fundraising and mentorship for the initiative's participants. Conference administrators have approved the creation of annual appointments between 10 and 12 months for program participants at each Pac-12 campus.
The program was announced Monday by the John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation, and will be known as the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative. Participants will be known as "MLI Future Leaders."
The foundation's namesake, McLendon, is a member of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame who was the first Black head coach of an American pro sports franchise (Cleveland Pipers, American Basketball League, 1959-62) and the first Black head basketball coach at a predominantly white university (Cleveland State, 1967-69).
Altman suggested that the Pac-12's head coaches participate in the initiative, and UO director of athletics Rob Mullens offered his support as well.
"In order to advance diversity in sports, it is important we develop minority administrators and leaders who will go on to hire the next generation of college coaches," Altman said. "We are only a small part of what we all hope will become a larger initiative. The Pac-12 coaches are excited to be involved with the McLendon Foundation and to become part of the solution."
Monday's news followed by two weeks the Pac-12's announcement of a campaign to promote social justice and combat racism. As first steps, the conference announced a new leadership role, the head of diversity and inclusion; created a social justice and anti-racism advisory group that includes student-athletes and senior administrators representing all 12 conference members; and announced a series of anti-racism forums with student-athletes and coaches.
The McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative can begin as early as this fall, though the effects of the ongoing pandemic and its impact on campus scheduling could push back the start date.
Altman and the other conference coaches each have pledged up to $33,000 annually and will provide fundraising and mentorship for the initiative's participants. Conference administrators have approved the creation of annual appointments between 10 and 12 months for program participants at each Pac-12 campus.
The program was announced Monday by the John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation, and will be known as the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative. Participants will be known as "MLI Future Leaders."
The foundation's namesake, McLendon, is a member of the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame who was the first Black head coach of an American pro sports franchise (Cleveland Pipers, American Basketball League, 1959-62) and the first Black head basketball coach at a predominantly white university (Cleveland State, 1967-69).
Altman suggested that the Pac-12's head coaches participate in the initiative, and UO director of athletics Rob Mullens offered his support as well.
"In order to advance diversity in sports, it is important we develop minority administrators and leaders who will go on to hire the next generation of college coaches," Altman said. "We are only a small part of what we all hope will become a larger initiative. The Pac-12 coaches are excited to be involved with the McLendon Foundation and to become part of the solution."
Monday's news followed by two weeks the Pac-12's announcement of a campaign to promote social justice and combat racism. As first steps, the conference announced a new leadership role, the head of diversity and inclusion; created a social justice and anti-racism advisory group that includes student-athletes and senior administrators representing all 12 conference members; and announced a series of anti-racism forums with student-athletes and coaches.
The McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative can begin as early as this fall, though the effects of the ongoing pandemic and its impact on campus scheduling could push back the start date.
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