Our focus for the future is OK; now we've improved the process -- minority candidates are in the room being interviewed. Our next question is, when the doors close, and the owner makes the decision, who's in that inner circle?

We are undeterred. We have a tremendous, deep and wide pool of strong, viable minority candidates.

The black coaching candidates were at least as strong, if not stronger, than those who were selected. Each team could say what their justifications were, but. . . it still shows that there's an uphill battle for African-American coaches.

There's been progress on that front, but I think that's where the process needs to be going forward. We think there needs to be a redoubled effort in the front office.

I think you have to focus on the inner circle of the decision-makers.

We have some things to point to that we think are successful. We had a record number of interviews this year, over 25. . . We also had for the first time a trade for an African-American coach.