WCC creates 'Russell Rule' to encourage minority hires

The West Coast Conference is taking a measure to create more opportunities for minorities in college basketball by implementing the "Russell Rule."

Named after the Boston Celtics legend and San Francisco Dons product, the rule will ensure minority candidates are included as finalists for athletics job openings.

Schools filling an opening for an athletic director, head coach, full-time assistant, or senior administrator position must now consider a candidate from a "traditionally underrepresented community," according to the conference's statement.

"It is my hope the West Coast Conference initiative will encourage other leagues and schools to make similar commitments," Russell, who won back-to-back NCAA titles with San Francisco, said in the release.

"We need to be intentional if we're going to make real change for people of color in leadership positions in college athletics," Russell continued. "I'm proud to assist the WCC and commissioner Gloria Nevarez by endorsing this most important initiative."

The WCC is the first Division I conference to implement a conference-wide diversity hiring measure.