Black coaches

Young athletes ran through basketball drills and plays, while veteran Black coaches and athletic directors shared their battle scars — and lessons learned — about overcoming racial, cultural and other barriers in high school and college sports.

When Bruce Arena’s termination as head coach of the New England Revolution soccer team was announced, the circumstances surrounding his dismissal were like so many others in today’s sports — clouded in suspicion and controversy. His departure, however, resulted in the addition of Clint Peay to the small number of Black coaches leading one of Major League Soccer’s 29 teams, even if on an interim basis.