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Times WiresLions president Matt Millen must pay $200,000 for not interviewing a minority coaching prospect.
DETROIT - The NFL served notice Friday that it is taking its commitment to diversity seriously, fining Lions president Matt Millen $200,000 for not interviewing minority candidates before hiring coach Steve Mariucci.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue sent a letter to Millen informing him of the fine, the first levied under the league's diversity program.
After coach Marty Mornhinweg was fired in January, Mariucci was the only person interviewed. The team said five minority candidates turned down interviews because it appeared inevitable Mariucci would be hired.
"While certain of the difficulties that you encountered in seeking to schedule interviews with minority candidates were beyond your control, you did not take sufficient steps to satisfy the commitment that you had made," Tagliabue wrote.
The Lions are prohibited under NFL rules from paying the fine on Millen's behalf, the league said. The commissioner told teams in May that future failures to interview minority candidates for a coaching opening could lead to fines of $500,000 or higher as "conduct detrimental" to the NFL.
Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said the Lions "respectfully disagree" with Friday's ruling but support initiatives to promote diversity for coaching staffs and front offices.
Keenist said Millen would have no comment.
There are three black coaches: former Bucs assistant Herman Edwards of the Jets, former Bucs coach Tony Dungy of the Colts and Marvin Lewis of the Bengals.
Dungy was sympathetic with Millen and said the league is making progress in promoting diversity.
"I really think it's kind of unfortunate, Matt's situation," Dungy told the Free Press. "I don't think anybody knew the exact parameters of it, what had to be done. But I think we have a better grasp of it now. I think everybody understands the rule much better. We know what has to be done.'
Dungy called the minority-hiring program "a work in progress."
"The more light we can shed on the issue, the better off we are," he said. "I don't think we want to get into a situation where we're fining people, but I think as a whole it's good to bring this issue to light."
The NFL has tried for years to increase minority presence. The league intensified its attack on the problem after advocates announced last year they might sue if the NFL didn't hire more black coaches.
League owners agreed in principle in December that any team seeking to hire a coach would interview at least one minority candidate. The exception would be promoting an assistant. Known as the "Rooney Rule," it is named after Steelers owner Dan Rooney, chairman of the diversity committee.