Black History Month is coming to an end, and although the annual celebration of black culture may be over, the UB Athletics Department will continue to shine as a new standard of diversity for Division I athletics.
The 2005 additions of athletics director Warde Manuel and head football coach Turner Gill, coupled with the already dominant figure of seventh-year head basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon, has made UB the first and only Division-I university to have an African-American in all three positions.
"It's a great feeling for me," Gill said. "I'm a person who looks deeper than just skin, because that's what it is, just your skin color. But we also have to deal with reality. In our society a lot of minorities do not have those opportunities to be in leadership positions. Therefore, it's a great opportunity for us as individuals, but also to show that people of color can do things in a great way."
As a result of its diversity in hiring, the university received awards in early January from Texas A&M's Laboratory for Diversity in Sport, including one for Overall Excellence in Diversity at the annual Diversity Athletics Awards. UB was one of only 10 schools to receive the award, which is based on diversity strategy, African-American male and female graduation rates, Title IX compliance, employee gender diversity and employee racial diversity.
Manuel said that when he made the decision to hire Gill he was not aware of the historical significance, though he is still proud to be a part of it.
"I wasn't aware of it until after the hire," Manuel said. "I think it's something that we should all take pride in that we have three African-Americans in those positions. We all know that we have to be successful and show that we can do the job and have success. Reggie has proved that and Turner and I still have to work hard and continue to improve and build UB."
As a Buffalo native, Witherspoon added that having the three men in high-profile athletic positions also serves as a gauge of success for the local young black community.
"This will ignite a vision, an aspiration in some young kid who may have thought that they couldn't do it," Witherspoon said. "There are other people who aren't kids, who think that 'Well they already have a black basketball coach, they're not going to hire a black football coach.' This just disproves that."
Although the personnel additions have created positive notoriety for UB athletics, there was some concern that the race of Manuel, Gill and Witherspoon would outshine their qualifications. Assistant Athletics Director Paul Vecchio, who has been at the university for 10 years, said that the historical precedent shouldn't overshadow the men that fill the positions.
"I think there is a concern in our society that a person's race plays more precedent than their accomplishments," Vecchio said. "What Warde and Turner bring in terms of background, knowledge in their field, and accomplishments prior to coming to Buffalo should stand completely on their own and I hope that message is what is known in the long run."
Manuel added that he isn't concerned that the racial significance of the three Bulls leaders will cause people to look at his achievements, and the achievements of his colleagues, any differently.
Although race my have taken center stage for a short time, all three men know that ultimately it is what they accomplish at UB that will be remembered historically, not just their cultural backgrounds.
"I think the people know us and know our background," Manuel said. "Turner was very prepared and Reggie has proved himself as a coach and I will let people choose for themselves if I had the qualifications. I don't think that any of us entered our positions without the qualifications and that's something that doesn't have to do with the color of our skin."
