DeKALB | There exists an issue embedded in NIU’s game against Buffalo Saturday that’s bigger than the game.

It’s a problem that stems from the foundations of this country and has continued to receive heightened awareness.

That issue is equal opportunity.

History was made in December when Buffalo hired Turner Gill to become its football coach. In doing so, Buffalo became the first Division I-A school to hire African Americans for three prominent athletic positions.

Thus, Buffalo’s athletics director Warde Manuel, men’s basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon and Gill will forever be remembered.

Gill also became the fifth black head coach throughout the 119 teams in Division I-A football.

“To me, you don’t want to make a big issue out of it,” said NIU running backs coach Thomas Hammock. “You should hire the most qualified person for the job, regardless of ethnic background.”

Hammock did his master’s thesis on the awareness of minorities in athletics.

The former NIU back said the NCAA has a minority coaches academy that allows for developing interviewing skills and on-the-job training.

As of now, the NIU athletics department has nine black coaches on staff. The three head coaches are women’s basketball coach Carol Owens, volleyball coach Ray Gooden and cross-country/track and field coach Connie Teaberry.

Owens said hiring women is also an issue.

“There’s not a lot of minority coaches,” Owens said. “And the stat is staggering when over 50 percent of student-athletes are minorities.”

NIU’s Human Resource Services oversees the hiring process for athletics, said Associate Athletics Director Robert Collins.

An African-American, Collins said he would like to see more minorities applying for all jobs, even though things are improving.

Sean Connor is an NIU football beat reporter for the Northern Star.