Dr. Fitz Hill, Arkansas Baptist College President, identifies employment barriers in new book “Crackback! How College Football Blindsides the Hopes of Black Coaches”

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — Dr. Fitz Hill, President of Arkansas Baptist College (ABC), who served as assistant head football coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks before being selected as the first African American to lead the San Jose State football program, has been a passionate longtime scholar when it comes to the challenges faced by African Americans in the college coaching profession. After years of research, he has now written the most comprehensive book ever on the subject – Crackback! How College Football Blindsides the Hopes of Black Coaches.

Doug Williams, who as the Washington Redskins’ quarterback was named MVP of Super Bowl XXII, wrote the foreword for Crackback! Williams currently serves as head football coach at Grambling State University.

Seeking a diverse perspective on race-related issues for African American football coaches, Dr. Hill chose to co-author his book with Mark Purdy, an award-winning sports columnist for the San Jose Mercury News. Purdy frequently covered Hill when he was employed as San Jose State’s head football coach from 2001-04. On multiple occasions, Purdy has been named to the annual Associated Press Sports Editors list of America’s Top 10 sports columnists and was also cited by the Wall Street Journal for writing one of the country’s Top 10 sports columns.

Hill has spent the last 24 years studying race-related barriers for African American football coaches employed at predominantly white colleges and universities. His groundbreaking exploration of the issue, including his own doctoral dissertation, has been featured on such television shows as ABC’s “Nightline,” “HBO Real Sports” and numerous ESPN programs. As a nationally consulted expert, Dr. Hill was summoned to testify before a U.S. congressional committee about this topic while writing Crackback!

Hill is scheduled to be featured on ESPN “Outside the Lines” in September to discuss the most recent employment developments of Alcorn State University. Alcorn is a member of the historically black Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and recently gained wide notoriety for the hiring of the first white head football coach in the history of the school and football conference. Hill discusses how this hire could potentially be an additional barrier for African American football coaches seeking head coaching positions. New York Times sports columnist, Bill Rhoden also recently wrote about Crackback! while attempting to explain the racial phenomena of Alcorn’s decision.

For more information on Crackback!, visit www.crackback.us.

For interviews, speaking engagements and book signings call 501-370-4002 or email fitzhill@hotmail.com.

Photo Caption: Bookcover