WCC creates diversity hiring plan called ‘Russell Rule’
Nearly 20 years after the NFL created the “Rooney Rule” to help its diversity hiring, the West Coast Conference has instituted the “Russell Rule,” its own interview policy to promote people of color, named after NBA Hall of Famer and USF legend Bill Russell.
The conference’s hiring initiative will require each of its member schools, including Saint Mary’s, Santa Clara, Pacific and USF in the Bay Area and beyond, to follow new guidelines when hiring any head coach, full-time assistant coach, athletic director or senior administrator in the athletic department. Specifically, the league announced Monday, the final candidates must include at least one person of “an underrepresented community.”
The WCC has already taken the lead as a trailblazer in diversity, most notably with the hiring of Santa Clara High graduate Gloria Nevarez, who became the first Latin-American commissioner in NCAA Division I history in 2018.
Russell, who went from a backup at McClymonds High to a breakout star at USF and an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, welcomed the chance to promote equitable opportunities in the conference he dominated in the mid-1950s while helping the Dons win back-to-back national titles.
“It is my hope the West Coast Conference initiative will encourage other leagues and schools to make similar commitments,” Russell said in a press release. “We need to be intentional if we’re going to make real change for people of color in leadership positions in college athletics. I’m proud to assist the WCC and Commissioner Nevarez by endorsing this most important initiative.”
Men’s basketball is the conference’s most high-profile sport, and currently four of the WCC’s 10 schools employ Black head coaches, including three former NBA players: Pacific’s Damon Stoudamire, Pepperdine’s Lorenzo Romar and Portland’s Terry Porter.
– Jon Becker
NFL
VIKINGS’ GM GETS EXTENSION >> The Vikings signed general manager Rick Spielman to a multi-year contract extension, matching their recent commitment to head coach Mike Zimmer and making the latest move toward maintaining continuity among the club’s key leaders.
The Vikings did not divulge the length of Spielman’s deal, but Zimmer signed a three-year extension
last month. Their previous contracts were synced to expire simultaneously. BRONCOS’ JA’WUAN JAMES SKIPPING 2020 >> Right tackle Ja’Wuan James informed the Denver Broncos that he’s opting out of the 2020 season over coronavirus concerns.
The Broncos were counting on their headliner from last year’s free agent class to bounce back from a balky right knee that limited him to just three appearances in 2019 after signing what was at the time the biggest contract ever for a left tackle, $51 million over four years.
James started three games for the Broncos in 2019 while playing in the first season of a four-year, $51 million deal.
College football
BIG 12 TO ALLOW TEAMS TO PLAY 1 NONCONFERENCE GAME >> Big 12 schools agreed Monday night to play one nonconference football game this year to go along with their nine league contests as plans for the pandemic-altered season continued to fall into place.
The Big 12’s university presidents signed off on a 10-game schedule, adjusted to deal with potential disruptions from COVID-19 that gives schools the ability to play one nonconference opponent at home.
The conference’s championship game is scheduled for Dec. 5, but could be moved back to Dec. 12 or 19.
As conferences take steps toward a football season that seems to be in precarious shape, the NCAA is expected to weigh in today on fall sports other than major-college football.
The association’s Board of Governors is scheduled to meet and whether to cancel or postpone NCAA championship events in fall sports such as soccer, volleyball and lower-division football is expected to be a topic.
XFL
ACTOR JOHNSON TEAMS UP TO BY XFL >> The Rock is now an owner of the XFL.
Actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson has teamed with business partner Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital, a private investment firm run by former Goldman Sachs executive Gerry Cardinale, to buy the spring football league that filed for bankruptcy in April. The partnership has acquired XFL parent company Alpha Entertainment LLC for $15 million days before the league was scheduled for bankruptcy auction.
Johnson played defensive tackle at Miami and was a member of the Hurricanes’ 1991 national championship team.
Men’s college basketball
GONZAGA’S KISPERT RETURNING FOR SENIOR SEASON >> Corey Kispert will not pursue professional options and is returning to Gonzaga for his senior season.
Kispert’s decision comes two days after guard Joel Ayayi announced he will be back for his junior season.
Kispert averaged 13.9 points and led the Zags with 78 3-pointers as a junior.
UCLA’S SMITH WILL PLAY SENIOR SEASON WITH BRUINS >> Chris Smith is returning to UCLA for his senior season. Sean Smith, Chris’ father, made the announcement Monday.
Smith was UCLA’s leading scorer and a first-team All-Pac-12 selection last season, averaging 13.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Motorsports
KESELOWSKI LANDS EXTENSION WITH PENSKE AFTER 3RD VICTORY >> Brad Keselowski finally got a contract extension from Team Penske, announced the day after NASCAR’s 2012 champion won his third race of the season.
Terms were not released, but a person familiar with the contract said the extension is one year through 2021. Keselowski won Sunday at New Hampshire and trails only Denny Hamlin (five wins) and Kevin Harvick (four) in Cup wins this season.
Tennis
TOP TENNIS RESUMES WITH NO HANDSHAKES OR SHOWERS >> Tour-level tennis resumed after a five-month enforced break, and players at the Palermo Ladies Open in Italy had to handle their own towels and not shake hands of opponents. A limited number of fans were allowed into the 1,500-seat stadium court and had to follow social distancing measures.