The Oregon House of Representatives passed a bill May 1 that would require state universities to interview minority candidates for coaching and athletic director positions. The House members supported the measure 42-4, and the bill moves to the Oregon Senate for consideration. Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland) introduced the measure to make it “more likely that head coaches in Oregon will represent the players and fans of university sports.” In a press release from Greenlick’s office, the representative explains the need for such a law and its football-related inspiration.
House Bill 3118 is modeled after the National Football League’s ‘Rooney Rule’, which provides that football franchises must interview a minority candidate for an opening in a head coaching position. After implementation of the NFL’s Rooney Rule, two black coaches competed for the national title as recently as the 2009 Super Bowl. Currently there is no such rule for college sports, and in Oregon, universities have increasingly circumvented normal hiring processes for coaches and athletic directors that would normally apply to all university staff.
Joining Greenlick in support of HB 3118 on the House floor today was Representative Ron Maurer (R-Grants Pass). “Perception is reality. Because universities use waivers to get around normal hiring processes, the perception is that we don’t give minorities a good opportunity to apply for coaching jobs in this state,” said Maurer
