Representation is a part of the game for Black coaches

By Izabela Gage

Sports Editor

On any given day at the Framingham State athletic facilities, student-athletes are learning far more than how to run plays or execute drills. 

For many, the lessons that stay with them long after graduation come from the people standing on the sidelines - the coaches whose leadership shapes not only how they compete, but how they see themselves and their futures.

For Black coaches in particular, that visibility can carry added significance. 

While Black athletes remain highly represented on college rosters, the same is not always true for the coaching ranks.

For Donald Morris Jr., head coach of the men’s basketball team, Black History Month “means a great deal. As a coach, it helps me always remember the people who came before me to pave the way for coaches of color.”

Even with the growth of diversity among players, Morris said leadership opportunities for Black coaches have not expanded at the same rate.

Morris said it’s “extremely important to have men of color on your staff. We have a limited number of head Black coaches across the country. Last I remember, from here to Pennsylvania, we only had 13 head men’s coaches in Division III. So it’s important that we have Black assistants so we can move them up the ladder. We have a plethora of Black players, but not enough Black coaches.”

Morris said when he became a head coach, “I was one of the youngest Black coaches in the country in Division III. I think that was due to people helping shape and mold me to find success.”

Now, he said he sees representation as an important part of how student-athletes understand their own futures.

“Being a Black coach in athletics means the world to me. It gives me the ability to show my son, daughter, and players, Black men in higher positions. If we don’t have kids and student-athletes seeing that, then they won’t think they can achieve that,” he said.

Morris said he doesn’t like to admit it, but he has seen “minimal change” in representation in coaching during his career. 

He said, “We have many Black coaches who can lead men and programs. With so many young men of color playing, we should have more leaders. I also see Black coaches sit in assistant roles and never elevate.”

Morris said he has always believed “if you have a diverse workplace, it relates more to the real world. The world is full of different types of people and backgrounds. Not having that in a workplace doesn’t translate to what the world is. So, for us to move forward as a society, we must work on a reflection of what the world looks like and the people in it.”

Beyond strategy and wins, he said he focuses on the long-term impact athletics can have on his players.

Morris said, “I tell all my players that the lessons we learn on the floor and in practice must translate to life. In life, things won’t always work out how we want, but you must keep pushing forward.

“The biggest responsibility isn’t winning. It’s taking young men and making them better men, so they become great in their community, families, and society. We want to help them leave better than they did when they came, and we use basketball and those lessons to teach that,” he added.

He said he encourages players to reflect on what motivates them to put so much time into the sport they love, and who they work hard for, which highlights the values they share. “Kids of all colors and backgrounds realize they are all really the same. That’s whether rich, middle-class, or poor, they all want to be successful for the people they love who helped them get there.”

Morris said he tells all students in any situation, “Always educate yourself, keep learning, and expand your knowledge. Never put limitations on what you can do or accomplish. 

“I came from a single-parent home most of my life. I was able to attain multiple degrees, start my own business as a minority man, and become a head coach. So, overcoming the odds is about how much more you are willing to work than the next person,” he added.

Morris said he hopes he can show his players “commitment is something you must have, whether you win or lose. It’s something you must have in all areas of life, no matter the outcome, the workplace, community, or family.”

EJ Nichols, wide receiver coach for the football team, said Black History Month allows him to reflect on his role as a Black coach, adding it is “important to look back on how far we’ve come as a whole - not necessarily looking at color but giving opportunities to those who have not only knowledge of the game but also the desire to teach it.”

He credited his own path in coaching to the many people who influenced him along the way. “Some coaches I have had great experiences with, and some I have had bad experiences with. All in all, every coach impacted me and my growth and taught me valuable lessons that I still remember.”

Nichols said he is “blessed to have the opportunity” to work as a coach. “A lot of Black coaches came before me and have had a lot of success. Hopefully, one day, I can be up there with the greats.”

He said his coaching style focuses on connecting football lessons to everyday responsibilities. “Excuses are every coach’s pet peeve. I tell my guys they have to figure it out because just like their teammates and coaches depend on them, one day, their families will depend on them.”

He said what motivates him most is “the Framingham name, the competitive nature I have still burning inside me, the want to see guys progress and reach their full potential, and … the guys I played with in my last couple of years.”

Nichols is in his first year coaching for FSU, but he said he hopes to be remembered for his genuineness and love for the game, and as a “coach who vouched for them and had their back, all while holding them accountable and using a humble but sturdy approach.”

Lance Mitchell, running back coach for the football team, said, “Black History Month isn’t just about honoring the past - it’s about carrying it forward.”

Mitchell said, “As a Black college coach from South Florida, I see it as a reminder that I’m standing on the shoulders of people who fought for opportunities I now get to live out every day - the chance to lead, to mentor, and to compete at a high level. 

“Personally, it pushes me to be intentional about how I show up. Professionally, it reminds me that my players are always watching. Representation matters. When they see someone who looks like them leading with discipline, integrity, and vision, it expands what they believe is possible for themselves,” he added.

Mitchell said he learned from Keith Byars and Cris Carter, who played for four and three different teams in the NFL, respectively. He said, “Being able to play and learn from men like that didn’t just inspire me - it showed me the blueprint. That’s when I knew coaching was bigger than football.”

Now working in college athletics, Mitchell said representation adds another layer to his responsibilities.

He said, “Being a young Black coach in college athletics today means carrying both purpose and pressure. I’m not just coaching the game - I’m representing possibilities for athletes who look like me and may share similar backgrounds. 

“It means having to prove myself, often being over-prepared, and aware that my performance reflects more than just me. But it also means opportunity to lead differently, to mentor the next generation, and to help reshape what leadership looks like in this space. Most of all, it’s about pride, responsibility, and using my platform to make a lasting impact,” he added.

He said he has also seen how thoughtfully hiring new staff can influence team culture. “Over the past three seasons working with Coach TK, I’ve watched him intentionally hire former players and other men of color, creating a meaningful pipeline of opportunity.”

He said in his four years of coaching at FSU, “seeing that level of representation on his staff has given me a clear and powerful outlook on the importance of building diverse leadership within our program.”

Mitchell said his coaching extends beyond football fundamentals. “I try to teach my players discipline, accountability, and how to carry themselves as men. I want them to understand that how they show up in the classroom, at home, and in their community matters just as much as how they show up on Friday nights. … Football is the vehicle, but the goal is to prepare them for life.”

Mitchell worked as a Department of Children and Families worker, ran a foster care program, and now serves as a high school counselor. He said these experiences have helped him “understand that many young people need stability and guidance beyond the game. Coaching isn’t just about football - it’s about mentorship, support, and helping them navigate life with confidence and purpose.”

He said his motivation to coach is “knowing I can be the person I needed when I was younger and someone who sees potential even before it’s fully realized. Watching athletes grow not just in skill, but in confidence and character, is what makes it all worth it.”

Mitchell said the story is still being written, but he hopes his players “remember how I believed in them on days they didn’t believe in themselves. I want them to carry forward the lessons of discipline, joy, resilience, and love for the game, and one day pour that same energy into someone else, creating a ripple effect.”

He said, “Supporting diversity in leadership within college athletics requires systemic change, rethinking structures, investing in people, and holding institutions accountable. When done thoughtfully, these efforts not only create fairer opportunities but also strengthen programs by bringing broader perspectives, innovation, and credibility to collegiate sports leadership.”