The Bucks continue to be at the forefront of efforts to increase access to the NFL. This is especially true when it comes to teams, especially how they work. Glazers Ownership Group has always embraced coaching by pushing the envelope. It started in 1996 when the Bucks hired Tony Dungy as their head coach. Dungy was only the fourth black head coach in modern NFL history.
They went on to hire Raheem Morris, Lovie Smith, and Todd Bowles. Under former head coach Bruce Arians, the team became the first team to fill all coordinator positions with black coaches. Arians has also been proactive in hiring women as part of his coaching staff, with former defensive line assistant coach Lori Locust and current director of rehabilitation and performance Maral Djawadifar both contributing to his leadership. working below.
Current head coach Todd Bowles has continued this, retaining Javadifar and adding Sarah Evans as senior manager of coaching operations.
The team has decided to continue that tradition by starting its own coaching academy to improve access for those seeking a path to coaching in the NFL.
All it takes is one chance.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers National Coaching Academy is being launched to create more entry points for aspiring coaches to get their first chance in the NFL.
Apply now ➡️ pic.twitter.com/ANWRTkV2v1
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 31, 2023
in Video released by Bucs Communications Department On the social media site ‘X’ (previously known as Twitter), the Bucs have hired Dungy, Arians and Bowles in an additional entry to allow more talent to have a path to becoming a coach in the NFL. We discussed the necessity of points. Arians specifically has a line in the video that says, “It’s not about who you know or where you’re from,” which is necessitated by the NFL’s longstanding tradition of being a system that lends itself to nepotism. It’s a nod to change.
Bucs ST Coordinator Keith Armstrong and Head Coach Todd Bowles – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
Countless coaches in the NFL, past and present, have been given the opportunity to enter the ranks thanks to family connections. Arians has previously been very vocal about the flaws in the current methods of developing teams and finding head coaches, citing his own path to the head coaching job.
“I was a Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator.” [in 2008] I didn’t even get a call to interview for the head coaching job. “So, since I didn’t have a chance myself, I started wanting to give more people a chance.
“The minorities on my staff are all great, great coaches. The ladies, that was a door that needed to be knocked down. Lori and Maral are great teachers. They work hard and are more than qualified. I am.”
“Inclusion and diversity are the best way to teach. The more input you have from different types of voices, the better the output.”
Bucs accepting applications from minority coaching candidates
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and co-DC Casey Rogers – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucks have shown that as an organization they are committed to improving this process and opening the door to candidates who may have missed out on the opportunity to join the NFL ranks. The team will invite 25 candidates along with the team’s coach for a week during rookie minicamp. Five of those 25 players will be selected for fellowship, allowing them to remain a part of the team through training camp and the preseason.
This comes as the NFL as a whole has been trying to improve the process of diversifying the coaching tree within the league. The Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship has been around for many years, but more recently the league has announced other measures to improve access for those who have traditionally had difficulty moving up or advancing within the league. was also introduced.
In 2022, the league introduced the “Coach Accelerator” to increase networking opportunities for up-and-coming coaches and front office staff. Additionally, the league amended its draft pick compensation system to include compensation for minority coaches and front office executives on teams who are employed by another organization as a head coach or general manager.
