THE ROAD TO THE SIDELINE
Investigating the Impact of the Rooney Rule on the Recruitment and Advancement of Black Coaches in the National Football League
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The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the Rooney Rule on the recruitment, hiring, and advancement of Black football coaches in the National Football League (NFL). Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study captured the lived experiences of Black coaches to uncover systemic barriers, limitations in implementation, and the perceived effectiveness of the Rooney Rule. The findings reveal a gap between policy intent and actual practice, highlighting the need for more proactive, intentional, and inclusive hiring processes in professional sports leadership.
Enrique Washington, Ph.D.
Enrique believes great leadership starts with finding and developing the right people. Over the past 30 years, he has dedicated his career to connecting exceptional talent with organizations that can unleash their potential, especially in the dynamic worlds of technology, sports, and entertainment.
Enrique has built his career and honed his expertise by working for some of the most groundbreaking brands globally, including Electronic Arts, Nike, ESPN, and Pinterest. He is dedicated to fostering inclusive leadership as a board member and leadership advisor. His expertise includes competency modeling, executive onboarding, and creating systems to attract and secure top-tier, diverse talent on a global scale.
He holds a B.S. in Marketing, an M.S. in Corporate and Public Communication from Seton Hall University, and an M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Kansas State University. Enrique holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Southeastern University, and his research focuses on advancing equity in leadership within the professional sports sector.
Enrique is the co-author of Competencies at Work: Providing a Common Language for Talent Management. Enrique enjoys traveling and has visited 48 out of the 50 United States. Enrique is also an accomplished athlete and a track and field All-American, having been selected for the 1995 Olympic Festival Track & Field team. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Business and Sport Management at Linfield University and co-founder of The Talent Project
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