While increasing numbers of college athletes are members of racial and ethnic minority groups, the number of minority administrators in decision-making athletics positions has remained mostly unchanged in the past 10 years, according to a new report from the NCAA.

The report, which jibes with the findings of annual reports on the issue by the University of Central Florida’s Richard E. Lapchick, shows that the percentage of black athletics directors rose less than one-half of a percentage point from 1995-96 to 2005-6. Only about 8 percent of all NCAA athletics directors, including those at historically black colleges, are black, the report says. Black associate athletics directors have made slightly more gains — rising 0.8 percent in the past decade — but account for only 9 percent of all associate AD’s.

In contrast, the number of black athletes competing at the Division I level continues to rise along with the total number of athletes. African-Americans accounted for more than 20 percent of the total athlete population in the 2005-6 study, up nearly a percentage point from 2002-3 alone.

“The big takeaway from this report is that the growth is not being reflected in the numbers of individuals who are either choosing or receiving the opportunity to become assistant or head coaches, directors of athletics, and senior woman administrators,” said Charlotte Westerhaus, the NCAA’s vice president for diversity and inclusion. “There appears to be a ceiling that’s preventing growth, and there’s a need for some answers and action to remedy this.” —Brad Wolverton