University of Houston Athletics
UH's Stewart Selected in NCAA Elite Group
6/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 16, 2011
University of Houston defensive coordinator Brian Stewart is one of seven coaches selected by the NCAA to attend the 2011 Champion Forum, the top tier of the NCAA's coaching academy programs. The NCAA has invited football coaches, athletics directors and several speakers from the membership and the NFL to Orlando, Fla., in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) convention on June 16-17.
The Champion Forum features a select group of football coaches who have been identified as potential candidates for head football coaching positions at NCAA colleges or universities. The coaches, who were selected by athletics administrators, are generally ethnic minorities who have completed the NCAA Expert program.
"This program is a great opportunity for me to get a better understanding of the qualities expected from a college head coach," said Stewart. "There is so much more that goes into being a Division I head coach than what happens on the field. In coaching, we are developing young people in all aspects of their life and through this forum, I will get a clear picture of how to organize and express my leadership philosophies."
During the Forum, the coaches, athletics directors and speakers will have time to develop professional relationships in a more informal, private setting. There will be simulated interview sessions, media training, keynote speakers, and opportunities to discuss key topics such as understanding and developing culture within their team and the athletics department and effectively engaging with the campus and academic staff after becoming a head football coach.
"The Champion Forum is instrumental because it introduces the football coaches to individuals and processes that they otherwise might not have known or been exposed to," said Robert Vowels, vice president for NCAA student-athlete affairs. "Networks are critical when seeking a head coaching position. Though we've seen some progress in minority hiring at the head coach level in football, we still attempt to expose individuals from underrepresented groups to those key networks in football because it may help balance the coaching numbers."
Currently, there are 18 ethnic minority coaches throughout the 120 Division I FBS schools; 10 ethnic minority coaches at the 101 Division I FCS schools; four ethnic minority coaches at the 133 Division II schools and nine ethnic minority coaches at the 229 Division III schools. The figures do not include Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
2011 NCAA Champion Forum attendees
• Michael Barrow, University of Miami, linebackers coach and special teams coordinator
• Kerry Cooks, University of Notre Dame, secondary coach
• Lawrence Dawsey, Florida State, wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator
• Gary Emanuel, Purdue University, defensive coordinator
• William Inge, University of Buffalo, defensive coordinator/linebackers coach
• Brian Stewart, University of Houston, defensive coordinator
• Joel Thomas, University of Washington, running backs coach
