Citing a strong crop of talent among the NFL’s coordinator ranks, the Fritz Pollard Alliance has passed onto the league one of its most extensive lists of minority head coaching candidate recommendations.

Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores, Cowboys defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator Kris Richard and nine other coaches are featured on the list.

The Fritz Pollard Alliance is the diversity group that works with the NFL to help ensure that candidates of color receive opportunities to interview for head coaching positions. Each year, the group’s leaders meet with league officials and passes on its recommendations.

Eagles assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley, Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, Falcons assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Raheem Morris, Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, former Bengals defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, former Browns coach Hue Jackson (now the special assistant to the head coach of the Bengals) and former Lions and Colts head coach Jim Caldwell round out the list.

John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, confirmed the list to USA TODAY Sports. This year's edition nearly doubled the total of last year’s recommendations, which featured Edwards, Richard, Austin, Cardinals coach Steve Wilks, former Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and Bills wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie.

Wilks was the only minority head coach hired last offseason among the seven openings.

The Fritz Pollard Alliance and league officials have encouraged the strengthening of the coaching pipeline in recent years, believing that more offensive, defensive and special teams coordinator opportunities for coaches of color eventually will lead to greater diversity in the head coaching ranks.

Wooten has expressed optimism that the work of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, and the organization's partnership with the NFL, is helping achieve those goals.

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