Wise, VA - DuShawn Austin has been coaching football for more than 20 years. This May the UVa-Wise secondary coach got a chance of a lifetime. Austin was selected as one of 25 candidates to participate in the NCAA Football Coaches Academy. Remarkably, Austin was selected despite not coaching at an NCAA member school; his selection made him the first NAIA coach to ever participate in the academy. 

The academy is designed to increase diversity across college football coaching. According to Austin "the academy teaches more than just x's and o's. It teaches the value of community leadership, while placing a strong importance on academics."

While placing importance on community relations and academics the academy also teaches coaches how to handle budgets, internal conflict, and how to behave in a professional matter. Therefore, the coach will be better prepared for a situation once it arises. Traditionally, jobs have been unattainable for minorities due to lack of education and experience in handling the everyday duties of a head coach. 

The hope is that the teaching of these skills will increase the knowledge of minority coaches, enabling these coaches to move up the coaching ladder. In 2009, only 15 NCAA FBS schools had African American head coaches despite nearly 55% of the players being African American. The number is even more concerning at the NCAA DII level where last season only three African Americans held head coaching jobs. In the NAIA Mid-South Conference only one institution has a minority head football coach. 

With such disparaging statistics minorities across college football have began applying to the academy to improve their skills. Since the academy's inception several attendees have gone on to become head coaches. Most recently, Mike London, Willy Taggart, Larry Porter, and Ron English have all moved into the FBS head coaching ranks. With his experience at the camp Austin developed his coaching philosophy of "one mind, one purpose". The philosophy is centered upon getting everyone involved in the program to give their all in every aspect of life for the overall good of the football program.

Personally, Austin plans on beginning work on a master's degree within the next year. Coupled with the degree and the information learned from the academy the coach believes he can be an even bigger asset for UVa-Wise while becoming more marketable for promotion. 

The Hawthorne, California native obtained his bachelor's degree in sport management from UVa-Wise in 2007. Currently, coach Austin lives in nearby Big Stone Gap with his wife Rosanne, daughters Shaniece, Samantha, and son Shane.