CarrSports Creates Social Justice Recruiting Team

March 25, 2021 – Executive search firm CarrSports Consulting LLC has established a social justice recruiting team led by vice president Kevin Anderson. Working closely with Mr. Anderson in an advisory role will be Leonard N. Moore, former vice president for diversity and community engagement at the University of Texas at Austin. “In light of today’s media and intense public scrutiny, it is imperative student-athletes, coaches and staff establish and uphold the fight for social justice and stop systemic racism, hate and bias on campus,” said Mr. Anderson. “We must create an atmosphere for all student-athletes where they are included within the athletic departments and are seen as more than athletes across campuses.”

The CarrSports social justice program will help athletic departments create an atmosphere where all student-athletes feel included, are seen more than just athletes across campuses, and have conversations where the student-athletes’ voices are heard and action is implemented through a collaborative effort. “CarrSports will also be able to help develop a meaningful path to address and increase inclusion and diversity,” the firm said. The CarrSports social justice program takes a three-tier approach where immediate, short-term and long-term action is discussed, strategically designed and implemented. The program can be tailored to meet the department’s needs. Mr.  Anderson has served on the NCAA ad hoc committee to promote cultural diversity and inclusion as well as serving as the director of athletics at the United States Military Academy West Point. He championed the first LGBT intercollegiate summit while he was director of athletics at the University of Maryland. While at Stanford University, coach Bill Walsh and Mr. Anderson led the development and management of the “Achieving Coaching Excellence Academy” that focused on recruitment and hiring of black head football coaches.

“We applaud CarrSports in their efforts to advance opportunities for Black athletic administrators in our industry,” said Brandon E. Martin, Kansas City vice chancellor/director of athletics, and member of the Black AD Alliance representing 50 black Division I athletic directors. “They have proven to be true advocates of our “pipeline” mission and have been fervently committed to issues surrounding equality and justice. We look forward to collaborating with CarrSports in the years ahead.”

Related: DHR Completes AD Search for Purdue

“Athletic directors need to be honest with themselves and what they are bringing to their campus every day. I know it can be delicate to talk about race,” said Dr. Moore. “I understand people have questions and want answers quickly and the CarrSports social justice team can help address those needs in a quick and constructive fashion. Athletic departments need to value student-athlete activism and especially their black student-athletes now more than ever. We need athletic directors to step up and be bold and progressive at addressing systematic racism.”


CarrSports Announces Transfer of Ownership
CarrSports Consulting, LLC has transferred ownership of the firm from founder and former president Bill Carr to managing partners Mike Thomas and Jeff Hathaway. Going forward, CarrSports will continue to focus on executive searches for athletic directors, head coaches, conference commissioners, and executive staff roles covering business planning and fiscal management, revenue generation, fundraising, and strategic planning, among others.


“As athletic departments and campuses come back together there is going to be a greater need to tackle the social justice issues that are right in front of us and those issues that are below the surface that need to be addressed,” said Mike Thomas, managing partner at CarrSports. “Departments need to be proactive and open to change to create long-term success for the future of the athletic department.”

“We aspire to help athletic departments embrace diversity, equity and inclusion so there is a welcoming, collaborating and understanding environment for every student-athlete, coach and staff member,” said Jeff Hathaway, managing partner at CarrSports.

Since 1997, CarrSports Consulting has provided executive search and management consulting services to intercollegiate athletics. Comprehensive or partial search services are offered for athletic directors, head coaches (all sports), conference commissioners, and executive staff for intercollegiate athletics, as well as affiliated athletics organizations.

Related: Collegiate Sports Associates Assists Boise State University with Athletic Director Search

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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