By: Jason Belzer & Eli Boettger

We have gathered and analyzed data regarding head coaching firings, resignations, retirements and hirings over the last decade (2008-2017) in NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball. The data reveals that racial hiring and firing practices of head coaches should be at the forefront of discussions in major college sports. […] To begin, we analyzed the percentage of total head coaching hires for both men’s and women’s basketball that resulted in a coach leaving for retirement, a new job, or a coach that was either fired or forced to resign.

In women’s basketball, firing/forced resignation rates are higher for both Caucasians and minorities than in men’s basketball. Over the past ten seasons in women’s basketball, minority head coaching tenures have resulted in a firing or a forced resignation 84.3% of the time. Just 13.9% of minority head coaching tenures on the women’s side have resulted in a coach leaving for a new job, while 25.6% of minority men’s basketball head coaching tenures have resulted in a coach leaving for another opportunity. This means minority women’s basketball coaches are six times more likely to be fired than move on for a better opportunity, while minority men’s are three times more likely to be fired than to exit for another head coaching position. Indeed, in aggregate, Caucasian coaches leave for new jobs 25.6% of the time, while minorities do the same just 13.9% of the time.