They’re Just Here for Ball: Proposing a Multi-Level Analysis on the Impact of Collegiate Athletics at Historically White Institutions on Black Male Collegiate Athlete Holistic Identity

Abstract

As the overrepresentation of Black male collegiate athletes (BMCAs) increases in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (DI) revenue-generating sports, coaches and athletic staff continue to overemphasize sport performance, while graduation rates for BMCAs remain persistently lower than their peers and research continues to document transition out of sport concerns for this population. Proposing a multi-level approach, we explore the collegiate athletic factors that influence the holistic identity development of DI revenue-generating BMCAs at historically White institutions (HWIs) leading to difficulty transitioning out of sport. At the macro level, the NCAA and its policies on eligibility are analyzed. At the meso level, HWIs’ collegiate athletic departments and the impact of organizational practices are examined in regard to their impact on BMCAs’ identity development, overall experiences, and transition out of sport. Lastly, at the micro level, we explore research focused on BMCAs’ experiences, expectations, and issues at HWIs. By identifying salient factors influencing BMCAs’ identity development and experiences, collegiate athletic stakeholders can use this information to create more effective programming and improve campus cultures that foster holistic development on a systematized basis creating an environment where BMCAs are prepared to move into the next stage of life after sport ends.