Dallas Cowboys reach out to assistant high school coaches to help them rise up the ranks
The NFL has a well-chronicled problem when it comes to the diversity in its coaching ranks, particularly with head coaches and offensive coordinators.
The Dallas Cowboys took a step toward trying to solve the problem by tackling the issue at the grass-roots level with their first high school diversity coaching summit Thursday at The Star in Frisco.
Sponsored by Nike, the event gave 20 North Texas high school assistant football coaches an opportunity to discuss professional and personal development topics with Dallas Cowboys coaches and team personnel, led by head coach Mike McCarthy.
“I think it’s always important to give back,” McCarthy said. “I thought it was a great idea. I enjoyed it. It was a great bunch of guys. I enjoyed my time with them. I asked them as many questions as they asked me. The challenges that they have and the things they have to deal with in high school. We are all in the position where we can continue to learn.”
Assistant Head Coach Rob Davis, Vice President of Player Personnel Will McClay, Director of Sports Performance Scott Sehnert and Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice also participated with special presentations.
The objective of the program was to provide high school assistant coaches with an opportunity to observe, discuss and gain knowledge of coaching at the highest level with the goal of potentially increasing the number of diverse head coaching candidates available to lead high school football programs in North Texas.
They discussed scheduling practices and meetings, talent evaluations, strength training camps, staff hiring and leadership.
“Everything helps,” McCarthy said when asked if the program could potentially lead a larger pool of candidates for the NFL to choose from. “Any time you can continue education, spread experience and interact, only good can come out of it. Everything if you disagree in the approach or aspects of the conversation. I think it’s all healthy.”
The focus right now was helping 20 coaches rise up the high school ranks.
And no one knows the challenge and journey better than Choice, a former Cowboys running back from 2008-2011 who initially started in broadcasting after his six-year NFL career ended.
He got his first start as a coach at Waxahachie High School under former Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna. He came back to the Cowboys as an intern and then to North Texas and Georgia Tech before landing at Texas in January.
“I worked my tail off,” Choice said. “I got around good people. Hard work works and successful coaches work hard. This program is a start. But I know the only way I can overcome a challenge is to work hard, network and doing things you don’t want to do is the best way to get over the hump. The things I didn’t want to do are what got me this opportunity.”
Like McCarthy, Choice hopes this program is the beginning of a larger movement that will not only make an impact on the high school level but also increase the pool of coaching candidates for colleges and NFL teams.
He said guys just need an opportunity.
“What bothers me is people see color and see race,” Choice said. “They judge and they put a ceiling on it. It’s a ton of coaches who have impacted me, Black and white. If you are the best, let them coach. If they have proved themselves, then those guys should have the opportunity.
“I am so thankful we are doing programs to bring more light to it because a lot of guys are more than capable of doing it.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 5:30 PM.
