“It’s going to get worse”: Sherrone Moore’s exit exposed a double standard many black coaches quietly acknowledge

College football rarely judges mistakes in isolation. When Sherrone Moore was dismissed from his role at University of Michigan, the fallout extended far beyond one program or one season. His firing reopened a familiar and uncomfortable conversation about race, opportunity, and how failure is weighed differently depending on who holds the clipboard.At the start of the 2025 season, the two most powerful conferences in the sport, the Big Ten and the SEC, employed just four Black head coaches combined. Four months later, only one remained. Moore’s fall became more than a scandal. For many, it became a symbol of how fragile progress can be.Former San Jose State coach Fitz Hill captured the problem simply. “These Black coaches are often evaluated collectively, while white coaches, our peers, are evaluated individually,” he said. “That's the difference. And that's because when you look at minorities, you group minorities. That's just a rational cognitive process.” He added that this reality does not make the system fair.Data backs that concern. Out of 136 Football Bowl Subdivision programs, only 14 Black head coaches remain, despite nearly half of FBS players being Black. The SEC has not hired a non interim Black head coach since 2020. In contrast, many white coaches survive firings and scandals and resurface with second or even third chances.Richard Lapchick of the Institute for Sport and Social Justice fears the climate will worsen. “I’m afraid that in the current climate, where DEI and efforts along those lines have been really sidelined in a major way, that it’s going to get worse, not better,” he said.Moore’s situation also revived comparisons that many see as unfair. Former NFL player Ryan Clark spoke to the broader impact, saying Moore’s failure affects others who follow. “He not only failed himself, but a community of coaches,” Clark said. “Had he succeeded the next ‘Sherrone Moore’ would have a favorable comp during his interview process.”History shows how rare second chances are. Only a handful of Black coaches, including Mike Locksley and James Franklin, have received another opportunity at the highest level after being fired. Meanwhile, white coaches such as Lane Kiffin have rebuilt careers with ease.The path forward, many argue, begins with access. Broader candidate pools, patient leadership, and fair evaluation matter. As Hill once asked bluntly, “What would have happened if Nick Saban would have been born Black?” The question still hangs over college football, unanswered, and increasingly urgent.Also Read: Will Sherrone Moore ever get a second chance in coaching? Criminal charges change the equation