Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 20, 1990 TAG: 9005200089
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Before this week, only six of a possible 86 coaching positions in 45 Timesland public schools (four schools don't play football) were held by blacks. That's slightly under 7 percent.
Of seven Roanoke and Roanoke County schools (14 positions), Sherley Stuart is the only black head coach. That's barely more than 7 percent.
There are five public schools in Norfolk. Of the 10 positions, there are two black head coaches (20 percent). The Norfolk Virginian Pilot covers 26 public schools - all of them in Group AAA. These schools are among the largest in Virginia. Of the 52 positions, there are 12 black coaches (23.1 percent).
Portsmouth, which has five schools in the Pilot's coverage area, has by far the largest percentage of black coaches. Six of the 10 coaches are black (60 percent).
Virginia Beach's eight schools have two black coaches (12 1/2 percent), which is better than the Roanoke metro area.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch covers 30 schools - all but three in Group AAA. Of the 60 positions, there are 14 black coaches (23.3 percent).
Of the 37 public schools covered by the Newport News Daily Press/Times-Herald (74 positions) there are 19 black head coaches (25.7 percent). So three of Virginia's larger metropolitan areas are consistent and rank far ahead of the Roanoke area in hiring black head coaches in revenue sports.
Take a look at Martin's resume and one wonders how a coach with his credentials took so long to become a head job. He was more than just an assistant football coach at Ferrum as he was involved in admissions, served as an athletic academic counselor and obtained his master's degree in educational media.
Martin applied for the Patrick Henry job this year and was not among the final two for the position.
He was an applicant for the Appomattox County job. "I was called back for a second interview but I declined," said Martin, 34. The job went to Bath County's Steve Williams, who coached the Chargers to the Group A semifinals.
Appomattox, according to Martin, also offered him a job as assistant principal. That school agreed to wait on Franklin County's decision.
Martin has a reasonable explanation for why more black football and boys' basketball coaches aren't hired.
"If you look at the overall number of black teachers, there are not a lot of black educators," he said.
"So many people are looking for experience. Many black people haven't had opportunities to have that experience as a head coach.
"At this point in time, people are open-minded. But the competition [for jobs] is so stiff that what appears to be the reason for doing something [hiring coaches] is not always what it appears to be."
Martin had hoped to coach in Division I of college football. The opportunity at Franklin County was just right and getting into Division I is not easy for anyone, black or white.
\ When Abingdon defeated Radford 5-4 for the Region IV girls' tennis championship this past week, it ended what was probably the state's longest championship streak.
Radford had won nine consecutive Region IV girls' tennis tournaments. The Bobcats still have won 10 consecutive New River District championships.
\ Roanoke Catholic, looking for a new football coach, broke off negotiations with Bassett's Jerry Cannaday this week. Cannaday had been talking with the Celtics for a couple of months.
Catholic's athletic association, to make up for a lower pay scale at the school, had come up with $15,000 to be used toward Cannaday's salary. The association told Catholic principal Karen Mabry to pay Cannaday within the school's salary scale.
"I think he [Cannaday] has excellent credentials and would be excellent for this program. But it's not possible at this time," said Mabry.
Paul Ripley, outgoing president of the athletic association, says negotiations might have fallen through because teachers at Catholic would be upset if Cannaday was hired with money from his group.
\ There were some young baseball players in Timesland overlooked last week in a survey of outstanding freshmen and sophomore prospects.
Carroll County pitcher James Phillips is 4-2 (0.90 ERA) with three saves. He has struck out 34 in 31 innings and in 22 at-bats had three homers and a double among his seven hits.
Others are Radford shortstop Brody Smith (.289), and a pair from Narrows, second baseman Kelly Lowe (.410 with 16 RBI who has struck out only six times) and center fielder Rodney Perdue (.415 with 11 RBI, three triples and four doubles).
by CNB