A HALF CENTURY AGO the face of sports in America looked very different than it does today. Then, professional sports were completely white—no African-American athletes were allowed to play in the major leagues, and Hispanic and Native American athletes were tolerated only if their skin was light in color. In the 1990s, athletes of all races and many ethnic backgrounds can be found in professional sports. A corresponding racial and ethnic mix is not reflected in management and team leadership positions, however. Few teams have minority owners, managers, or coaches and team leadership positions are held mostly by white players.

Views differ as to the reasons for the dearth of minorities in management and leadership positions. One explanation is that change comes slowly and that minority representation has grown in the last few decades and will continue to do so...