BALTIMORE – Donna M. Woodruff, Loyola University Maryland's assistant vice president and director of athletics, is one of 30 NCAA Division I athletic directors to sign the Collegiate Coaching Diversity Pledge (CCDP), a nationwide initiative launched by AthleticDirectorU.
 
The CCDP is an opt-in pledge by Division I athletics directors to include a diverse group of candidates in the finalist pool for head coach vacancies in men's basketball and women's basketball. 
 
"Loyola Athletics is committed to hiring diverse and talented coaches and staff, and I am proud to be part of this important initiative," said Woodruff. "As athletics directors, I believe we have an obligation to work to identify, interview, hire, mentor and retain talented coaches who are such a critical piece in the positive leadership of our student-athletes."
 
Loyola's head men's basketball coach, Tavaras Hardy, is also a member of the CCDP's Board of Coaches.
 
The CCDP reflects a commitment to ensure equal opportunity in the hiring of head coaches, and to address the barriers that have prevented full participation of underrepresented minority groups.  
 
The CCDP already counts 30 Division I athletics directors as signatories and supporters of the initiative. These leaders represent 18 Division I leagues from coast to coast, including the: Atlantic 10, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, CAA, Conference USA, Horizon League, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Patriot League, Southeastern, Southern, Southland, Sun Belt, West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference.
The Collegiate Coaching Diversity Pledge will be overseen by an esteemed group of independent higher education and sports leaders who comprise the Board of Advocates and the Board of Coaches. The Board of Advocates will work directly with a third-party clearinghouse designee to conduct a selective review of a representative sample of coaching searches to ensure compliance with the CCDP on an annual basis.