Coaches vs. Racism (CVR), a national nonprofit dedicated to ending systemic racism through sports, was launched in 2012 by Darryl Woods. But in 2020, after COVID and the murder of George Floyd, the group moved to hosting college basketball games in Washington, DC. The first was Michigan against Prairie View A&M, a predominantly white institution vs. a Black college team.
“I’m not just talking about Black and white,” Woods said last week during an interview with MSR. “I’m talking about resources, infrastructure, everything,” that separates a bigger Division I school from a smaller Division I Black school. “We kicked off the inaugural game [in 2021]. … There was a ton of support right out the gate because, within our messaging, I think folks understood what we were trying to do — just to have meaningful conversations.”
MBB games were also held in Houston in 2022 and 2023. But this time, it featured a WBB tripleheader: Norfolk State vs. Saint Louis University, Arizona State vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, and Georgetown University vs. Colgate University.
It was more than three games; it was a call to action.
“Games are one thing. We have a lot of people that are doing college basketball games,” said Woods, CVR executive director. “We’ve been trying to put together an all-women’s game, and this is the first year we’re finally able to pull that together. We were able to get six universities that we feel will represent the CVR brand in terms of understanding that systemic racism does exist and are looking for ways to be an agent of change.”
Norfolk State is coached by Larry Vickers and features such players as Kierra Wheeler from Minneapolis and Diamond Johnson. Saint Louis University is coached by Rebecca Tillet. Maryland native Natasha Adair coaches Arizona State: “She was at Georgetown when John Thompson was there,” Woods said of Adair, ASU HC since 2022. “
John took a liking to her, and kind of put her under his wing in terms of communication, showing her and talking to her about the ins and outs of the games and the politics of the game.
“This event is an important platform to raise awareness about social justice,” Adair said.
First-year HC Malikah Willis coaches Maryland Eastern Shore. Darnell Haney leads Georgetown in his first full season as head coach. Colgate is coached by
Ganiyat Adeduntan (pronounced GAH-nee-OTT ah-deh-DUN-tin), who is now in her fourth season. All games will be held at the entertainment and sports arena in DC.
Woods, an accomplished sports professional with experience in negotiating multi-million-dollar contracts across the United States, Europe, and Asia, recently was named chief business officer at MARC Global Communications based in Chicago. But CVR is his passion and mission.
“There is a ton of eyeballs that are watching,” Woods said of the games on Dec. 7. “The reason we exist and what we’re charged with is not letting the narrative die, because that’s what’s going on in Minnesota and Chicago, in LA, and New York, and communities all over the country.
“Part of my goal, to be honest with you, is to stand out and continue to have meaningful conversations about how we could have impact and change society as we know today.”