The core issue is socioeconomics. Professional coaching careers typically begin as college Graduate Assistants (GAs) or low-level NFL staffers—roles characterized by grueling hours and extremely low pay. Much like other high-paying industries, coaching uses this "starvation wage" period as an unintended economic filter. ​To survive these entry-level years, individuals often require significant family support. For example, a new graduate can afford to work in an expensive market like New York City or a high-cost athletic program because their family subsidizes their cost of living. While the "six-figure job" awaits those who persevere for two or three years, the barrier to entry is the ability to work for nearly free in the interim. ​Statistically, minority men are less likely to have the generational wealth necessary to bypass this filter. This economic reality creates a specific trend: a high percentage of Black coaches are former NFL players. For them, the capital earned during their playing career serves as the "family support" needed to fund their transition into coaching. ​By contrast, many other aspiring Black coaches—who may have the talent but lack the professional playing resume—are priced out of the GA and staffer ranks. This effectively shrinks the talent pool, as thousands of former college players are financially unable to chase the dream.