A day later, Chris Doyle resigned from his position with the Jacksonville Jaguars Urban Meyer announced the controversial setting.
“Chris Doyle came to us tonight to submit his resignation and we agreed,” Meyer said in a statement released by the team. “Chris didn’t want to be distracted by what we’re building in Jacksonville. We’re responsible for all aspects of our program and should have thought more carefully afterwards about how his appointment might have affected everyone involved. We wish him best if he did developed further in his career. “
Doyle was hired as Jaguar’s Director of Sports Performance.
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On Thursday after the announcement of Doyle’s hiring, Meyer announced that franchise owner Shad Khan and general manager Trent Baalke had signed the decision.
“I’ve known Chris for almost 20 years,” Meyer said in a press conference on Thursday. “Our relationship goes back to when I was in Utah and he was the No. 1 strength coach. I reviewed him thoroughly with our general manager and owner. I feel great about the attitude, about his expertise in this position. We have Check it out thoroughly and athletic performance will have a high, high priority. “
The setting was met with immediate disdain.
On Friday Rod Graves from the Fritz Pollard Alliance – an organization dedicated to promoting diversity in the NFL – called the attitude “unacceptable”.
“At a time when the NFL has not resolved its racist hiring problem, it is simply unacceptable to have Chris Doyle join the ranks of NFL coaches,” said Graves’ statement. “Doyle’s departure from the University of Iowa reflected a tenure marked by poor judgment and abuse of black players. His behavior should be as disqualifying for the NFL as it was for the University of Iowa.
“Urban Meyer’s statement ‘I’ve known Chris for almost 20 years’ reflects the good old boys network, which is precisely why the job opportunities for black coaches are so varied.”
Doyle left the Iowa Hawkeyes football program on June 15 after allegations of racism and bullying emerged.
An outside investigation by law firm Husch Blackwell last summer found that Iowa black players felt they were being treated harshly.
“Overall, the program rules have perpetuated racist or cultural prejudices and diminished the value of cultural diversity.” the report said. “The program monitored the players to the point where they felt heightened fear and had a culture that allowed a small group of coaches to humiliate the players.”
Featuring: Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY
