Christopher Dougherty. Diversity and Inclusion in Collegiate Sports - How Important is it?

While college athletics is always changing, the forefront of conversation over the past few years has been diversity and inclusion across NCAA programs. Recruits come from all over the world, to continue to play sports they love on a larger scale, however is diversity highlighted enough within the NCAA? Over 38% of athletes within the NCAA are people of color, which is a heavy amount of the student athletes already. As one of the largest platforms in the United States, college sports play a pivotal role in shaping societal perceptions and values. Therefore, it is crucial that we closely examine the diversity and inclusion within collegiate athletics and the representation it offers to audiences nationwide.

Carles Hernandez, Roberto Guimaraes and Michal Novansky are all student athletes for the Mississippi State Men's Tennis team. Not only are these three world class athletes, but they are also all moved away from their home countries to take a spin in the college athletics carousel. Mississippi State's Men's Tennis team is one of the most diverse groups on capmus, as their team is full of players who are coming from outside the United States, only having one player on the roster that grew up on US soil.

However, this sense of diversity is what makes Senior Carles Hernandez, feel right at home."The diversity, there's just so many different cultures here, so many people which I was introduced to". Mississippi State's culture had him feeling at home quickly, and the rest of the guys made the transitions easy on the younger players, Michal and Roberto. The responses in the interviews below, truly show the importance of diversity within college athletics as well as inclusion. When both of those qualities are working in harmony, the success of a program or team is limitless.

While Mississippi State is providing these student athletes with a positive experience in diversity and inclusion, the statistics tell us that the same might not be the case elsewhere. In terms of racial diversity, black athletes are often overrepresented in revenue-generating sports like football and basketball, yet their representation in "higher ranking" positions such as coaching or administrative roles remain alarmingly low. This is just the tip of the iceberg when talking about the lack of inclusion and diversity in college athletics. Statistically speaking, 70% of coaches in college basketball are white, dominating the job field in this position. However, this is just men’s sports that we are talking about. Women on the other hand, are facing not only racial disparities, but gender disparities as well.

The largest drop off for Women's college sports is the media coverage as well as the resources allocated to them and their programs. Inclusion is the biggest brushback for women in sports as well as women of color in sports. While it has improved over the last year, according to research from the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport, only a small fraction of sports media coverage is dedicated to women's sports, contributing to the lack of visibility and recognition for female athletes. Due to not receiving the fair opportunity to receive coverage, this causes a lack of resources allocated to these programs in college athletics. This not only pushes them behind the eight ball in terms of growth, but also in terms of inclusion. This is just one of the many incredible examples that prove how vital diversity and inclusion are to college athletics.

Looking into the positive side of things, there are collegiate conferences which are trying to get out in front of the curve of the problems of poor diversity and inclusion. One of those conferences, is the Sun Belt Conference. This past Fall sporting season, the Sun Belt highlighted a new movement of theirs, the SBC NCAA Inclusion Campaign. This was used to highlight athletes of color, as well as speak on diversity and inclusion and what it means to athletes across the conference.

In the midst of ongoing discussions surrounding diversity and inclusion in college athletics, it's crucial to acknowledge the efforts being made to address these issues head-on. Initiatives like the SBC NCAA Inclusion Campaign, spearheaded by the Sun Belt Conference, demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within collegiate sports programs. Looking ahead, more conferences look to be doing the same as the Atlantic Coast Conference is pushing programs of diversity and inclusion forward, to assist athletes and members of campus with a voice to be heard in correcting issues. Michal Novansky finds it to be, "A step toward the right direction", within college athletics.

By shining a spotlight on athletes of color and engaging in conversations about diversity and inclusion, conferences like the Sun Belt are taking proactive steps to create more equitable and inclusive environments for all student-athletes. These efforts not only foster a sense of belonging and support for athletes from diverse backgrounds but also send a powerful message about the importance of representation and inclusivity.

Moving forward, it's imperative that colleges, universities, and athletic conference’s continue to prioritize diversity and inclusion in their policies, practices, and programs. By working collaboratively to address systemic barriers and promote equity in opportunities, we can create a more inclusive and representative landscape within college sports world.

Ultimately, the success and integrity of college athletics depend on our collective commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. By embracing these values, we can ensure that all student-athletes have the opportunity to thrive, both on and off the field.

Email me at cmd750@msstate.edu with any questions