Coaches say race plays no role in recruitment

Coaches and athletes agree that sports teams at Tufts do not intentionally recruit minorities, but instead look to create the most balanced team possible. Although the Diversity Office does not keep specific numbers on the racial breakdown of athletic participants, analysis of the teams themselves demonstrates how diverse they are. There are four black players on the men's basketball team, out of a total of 14.

"In terms of basketball, I feel like nowadays good players are coming in all shapes of different sizes and colors," said Deyvehn East, a junior on the team. "I've played against a lot of guys who were of different ethnic backgrounds. I don't see it as too much of an issue."

In most sports, Tufts coaches only attend all-star games or tournaments, instead of visiting specific schools. This means that the coaches are not able to focus on a specific district or school when recruiting.

The amount that recruitment plays into coaches' plans depends on the sport. Basketball relies solely on recruitment to fill its ranks, and while track also recruits, it is also possible to walk on.

Minority students at Tufts play just as large a role as the coaches in bringing in more athletes for the team. "Once you have some on your team, you can get more," said men's basketball coach Bob Sheldon. "Our prospective [minority] players stay with minority kids," giving them a more comfortable environment.

Women's track coach Kristen Morwick agrees. "The Student of Color Outreach Program (SCOPE) helps us," she said. SCOPE was created by the University to try to increase minority enrollment. "Tufts does a nice job of trying to recruit as diverse a class possible and giving opportunity to students. We certainly benefit from those programs."

NESCAC rules also considerably limit the amount of recruiting that coaches can do. There are no home visits _ or "sit-downs" _ allowed until after the student has graduated from high school. Coaches are also not allowed to approach students when they attend the all-star games and tournaments. Instead, it is the student's job to initiate contact.

Recruitment for the men's basketball team is the most extensive. Coaches and assistants send out questionnaires to about 180 students _ names are chosen from summer basketball camps _ and the next list is formed by students who both returned the form, showing their interest, and qualify academically. "If someone isn't in the ballpark [academically], we can't get them in," said Sheldon.

Then, the students generally send in videotapes of their skills for coaches to get a better look. Sheldon and his assistants maintain contact with the players they most want to attend Tufts.

"The deciding factor is whether there is a position open and how good the student is," said Sheldon. "If he said 'I love Tufts, I'm coming to Tufts,' then we are more likely to put him at the top of our list."

Because there are so few spots available on the basketball team, it doesn't make sense for the coaches to recruit based on race. Skill is the first priority.

What can be more challenging, in fact, is selling athletes on Tufts in general. Prospective students wonder why they should attend a school where athletics is a much lower priority than at Div. I schools. "It's a pain in the butt process, and a lot of work, selling Tufts," said Morwick. "I tell kids that Tufts is D1 in academics, D3 in athletics. We are a huge university that has plenty of opportunities. We have so many options here."

As always, while coaches have a say in who they want on their team, the final decision comes down to the admissions office. "We have a lot of different factors that weigh into the decision: what school the student went to, if she is a legacy or a minority student," said Morwick. "It's always somewhat of a guessing game, hoping that kids get in."

In the end, diversity comes naturally to teams at Tufts. "I want our athletic teams to be an environment where everyone feels involved when decisions are made on who makes a team," said Athletics Director Bill Gehling. "Diversity doesn't play a role."