Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will speak with NBA coaches at a virtual development session on May 27 as part of an equality initiative by the league, according to a report by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Sources: Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will speak at a virtual development session in front of NBA coaches on May 27 for an equality initiative.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 20, 2020
Tomlin is one of just four head coaches of color in the NFL. There are just two African-American general managers in the league currently.
While the lack of opportunities for minorities in the NBA may not be as glaring as in the NFL, the league has room for improvement and appears taking steps to address diversity.
Eight of the league’s 30 teams are led by African-American head coaches, even though 75% of NBA players are black.
The news comes a day after the NFL announced changes to the Rooney Rule, which includes a requirement to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coach and general manager jobs. They must also now interview at least one minority candidate for coordinator positions, and will no longer be able to block assistant coaches from interviewing for jobs elsewhere.
League owners tabled a resolution Tuesday that would incentivize teams that hire minority head coaches and general managers with improved draft picks.