Universities are going to have to do a better job making the grade when it comes to hiring minorities for head coach positions.

The Black Coaches Association announced Tuesday it will begin rating Division I-A schools on commitment to hiring minorities for vacant football coaching positions.

With only four black head coaches in college football, there is no doubt there is a significant lack of minority coaches, and something needs to be done to integrate more minorities into head coaching positions.

The BCA's ratings could begin as early as next season and will be based on percentage of minorities involved in the hiring process, number of minority candidates interviewed, the length of search and how the search reflects institutional affirmative action policies.

But there can be potential problems with quotas.

Minorities could end up becoming tokens in the hiring process. Universities might review a diverse set of candidates just to say they reviewed a diverse set of candidates, even if they had no intention of hiring the minorities.

If quotas are put in place, schools might hire minorities just to meet the quota.

But at the same time, quotas will allow many minorities to stick their foot in a door that otherwise might be unable to be opened.

There are many qualified football coaches in high school programs that have great potential at the collegiate level.

The NFL also has continually been progressive when it comes to diversifying sideline staff.

With 10 percent of NFL coaches being minorities shows commitment to diversifying the man behind the clipboard.

The Big Ten has only had three black head football coaches - Northwestern's Dennis Green, Francis Peay and MSU's Bobby Williams.

Keith Harrison, a University of Michigan professor conducting an unofficial and preliminary study in conjunction with the BCA, gave MSU an unofficial "A" for its search to permanently replace Williams last season.

MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said the hiring process to replace Williams included a diverse group of candidates.

In addition to Williams, who was hired as head football coach in 1999, MSU's past two athletics directors - Merritt Norvell Jr. and Clarence Underwood - also are black.

But while Spartans should be recognized for their past efforts, they are far from having a perfect score.

It is important for the university continue to consider a diverse pool of applicants for every coaching job to make sure all have an equal opportunity.

Despite the potential problems brought about by installing a quota, it is good to evaluate hiring practices for coaches at the university level to make sure minorities are being given a fair chance at head positions.

If universities are going to promote diversity and equality on campus it should also promote it on the sidelines.