Best of WorkInSports Podcast 2022: Dr. Christopher Brown

The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on everyone in 2020, with its effects lingering today. As with many facets of society , such as financially (both before and since the pandemic), it did even more damage to the lives and lifespans of Black and Hispanic communities.

Addressing our society’s disparate impacts on minority groups is the core of the mission of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs. One of the fastest-growing fields since 2020, DEI job postings increased 123% between May and September 2020. That trend carried over into the sports industry, particularly with college athletics jobs, where athletic departments have created positions earmarked for DEI on their senior staff. The WorkInSports Podcast spoke with one staff member, Dr. Christopher Brown (now commissioner of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association), during his tenure as the University of Delaware’s Senior Associate Athletic Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We discuss:

• The effectiveness of the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for a head coach or coordinator position

• The mission of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs

• The sports industry’s current level of inclusion

Enjoy the full episode for Dr. Brown’s full synopsis of the state of DEI in the sports industry. Also, subscribe to the WorkInSports Podcast for more sports career advice. Additional content can be found on our YouTube channel!