Floyd Keith Quotations

Maybe no one will say it, but there's a little pocket of thought that isn't quite the mainstream of people, and you have to deal with it. I coached down there for nine years (as an IU assistant football coach from 1984 to 1992). I dealt with it, but I wasn't the head coach.

My sense is that the efforts being made by athletic directors (to interview and hire black candidates) have been more timely and complete. There is an improvement. ... But at the end of the day you have to be objective and measure this in wins and losses, and that's a bittersweet perspective. Hiring two coaches and increasing your total 66% just underscores how much distance we have to go.

People of color need to start shopping and buying at institutions that value, promote and reflect inclusion and diversity. Student-athletes of color need to start making decisions to play where it is most likely they will have a fair and equitable opportunity to coach.

We don't give favoritism just because an African-American was hired at the institution. That wouldn't qualify for what we're trying to do (by assessing the hiring process, not the outcome). That search probably could have been done better.

You'd have to take an individual search, an individual process, and there would have to be an individual case that would warrant that. An affirmative action policy would have to be involved (and disregarded by the school).

We need to be together and we need to work together to correct the things that aren't right.

This (upcoming) search year is going to be very significant in the decision as to where that goes. In the history of social change, there has always been some element of legal accountability that has had to be a part of the process. Hopefully, that doesn't have to happen.

This action sends an alarming message to African-Americans who are pursuing coaching at the Division I-A level. It's still going to be tough.

They happened to fine people for grade deficiencies and fine people in Title IX cases. So if there is a true inequity in a racial aspect, I guess you could (levy fines). You have to have some legal teeth.

It represents an excellent basketball coach who happens to be a person of color and this also represents something that is unique, that he has replaced another coach of color.

It's always better to be the second guy.

It makes no sense. Why is it that the No. 1 position of leadership and decision-making on a football team can be occupied by a person of color but the person on the sideline can't?

I still always get concerned about one-week hires. I see the situation at Colorado, and the next day the Boise State thing happens. If there's anything we've learned, it's that you have to show diversity and inclusion (in the hiring process).

I know Kelvin Sampson and I consider him an ethnic minority and I couldn't be any happier for Kelvin. I think he's an outstanding basketball coach.

I just felt all the air had been let out of me on everything that we stood for as a football program.

These guys are all capable candidates in some way, shape or form for some Division I institution.

The environment in the Midwest bodes decent opportunities.