Coaching wellness, health, and success: Leveraging the potential of Black male coaches to promote positive outcomes for Black K-12 students

Abstract

ABSTRACTWhile there are low percentages of Black males as educators, psychologists, pediatricians, and psychiatrists, Black students are more likely to have a Black male athletic coach. Previous research on the role of Black male coaches has demonstrated that there are several positive outcomes (i.e., academics, social skills, and reducing misbehaviors to deter criminalization) when the racial identity of Black students is matched with a Black coach. Black male coaches are an understudied cultural asset to the Black community. Therefore, this article explores how Black male coaches can be used to accelerate the closure of the opportunity gap by promoting community wellness, health, and academic success for Black youth. The recommendations for policymakers, educators, and school mental health professionals were written in collaboration with a Black male teacher-coach who works in a predominately Black high school setting.