Date

4-29-2026

ESRP 9000 Professor

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Jason Abreu, Ed.D.

Executive Summary

A Strategic Approach to Addressing Inequities in Athletic Scholarship Attainment Through Coach Development in Urban Public School Districts. Broderick Jamison, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: Access and equity, achievement, athletic scholarships, barrier, coach education, community partnerships, culturally responsive coaching, external factor evaluation (EFE), holistic development, internal factor evaluation (IFE), mentorship, pay-to-play policies, peer tutoring, scholarship readiness, school-community partnership, sports administration, student-athlete, youth sports

This Strategic Research Project was carried out to help explore access disparities in athletic opportunities systematically and devise evidence-based measures to promote equitable student-athlete outcomes. The primary purpose of this document is to examine organizational and environmental variables that shape involvement in school-based athletics and suggest sustainable solutions to improve the rate of scholarship achievement. Grounded in the principles of access and equity, this project integrates strategic management tools and scholarly literature to inform decision making in sports administration.

The main issue in the project is limited access to athletic scholarships among the student-athletes from underserved communities. The problem is driven by a combination of financial barriers, inconsistent coaching quality, and insufficient academic support systems, which limit the extent of participation and lower exposure to collegiate recruiting opportunities. These factors contribute to disparities in scholarship attainment and long-term educational outcomes.

The chosen solution focuses on the implementation of an all-inclusive coach education and mentorship framework that would help to foster scholarship preparedness and facilitate athletic development. The strategy focuses on culturally responsive coaching, professional learning, and structured mentorship to enhance the performance of athletes. The action plan explains how coach training programs, academic support programs and community partnerships can be integrated to develop a multi-tiered support system for student-athletes.

Recommendations include institutionalizing coach education programs, increasing mentorship opportunities, enhancing academic support services, and reassessing pay-to-play policies to reduce financial barriers. These efforts will make athletic scholarships more accessible and enhance fairness in participation of young people in sports. The results offer a strategic plan that could be used to improve equity, organizational effectiveness, and post-secondary outcomes to student-athletes.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Curriculum and Teaching

Language

English

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