Article - January 5th, 2007
Coach-Seeking Steelers Will Play by the Rule
By Sean Jensen, AOL
Dan Rooney has closely examined the handling of the head coaching vacancies around the NFL since the mandate bearing his name was implemented in 2002.
Now, the NFL gets to watch the champion of the "Rooney Rule" in action.
With the resignation of Bill Cowher today, Rooney is looking for only his third head coach in nearly four decades.
John Wooten said he unequivocally knows that Rooney will properly manage the process, which requires that at least one minority candidate is interviewed for each head coaching vacancy.
"I know where his commitment is," said Wooten, the chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an organization devoted to promoting and monitoring diversity in the NFL. "I've sat across the table from him for the last three and a half years, and watched and seen him do great things."
"Mr. Rooney, I can assure you, has seen our list and is going over it extensively, and there will be a number of African-American or minority coaches who will be in for an interview before he makes a decision."
In mid-December, Wooten said he met with Rooney and others on the diversity committee at the NFL headquarters to discuss potential openings this off-season.
At the time, Wooten offered up a preliminary list of candidates of color. [He] insisted the process, which aided the bump of minority head coaches from two to seven in four seasons, has made a lasting impact.