It still seems the only path for a black coach is to be professional player. There are not many black coaches who can follow the path where they coach above a level they played in. While around half the NBA coaches followed the path of being college players, some at low levels, worked there way up. Only two black coaches took that path. Dwayne Casey (who was widely praised as as an assistant for years) got his head coaching job at age 48. It seems this path is almost closed to black coaches who do not win at the college level. It seems a female coach will get more buzz from the press taking this route.
Looking at the 7 black coaches and white (including Stotts and Stevens) coaches
Black Coaches
5 of 7 former nba players all with 5+ years in NBA
Other 2 are former college players
1 coach with Family connection to coaching that may have helped get foot in the door.
White coaches
6/21 former NBA players
13/21 former college
5 at low level colleges
1 with no playing expereince
Black Coaches
Former NBA Players
Larry Drew 10 years NBA player
Nate McMillan 12 years NBA player
Tyronn Lue played 12 years NBA player
Doc Rivers 13 years nba player
Monty Williams 6 years nba
College Players
Dwayne Casey College player, became NBA assistant at age 37 major dues paying
Stephen Silas worked as assistant under his father was a very young assistant at age 27.
White coaches
Former NBA players 10 years Nash, Kerr, Walton, Brooks
Former NBA players with brief (< 5 years) Donavon, Carlisle,
Played College but not NBA
Borrego
Spoelestra (pro player in Europe)
Vogel (Div 3)
Mike Malone
Mike Budenholzer (div 3)
Chris Finch (div 3. pro in Europe)
Stan Van Gundy (div 3)
Tom Thibodeau (Div3?)
Steve Clifford
Popovich (USAF Basketball)
Quin Snyder
Nick Nurse
Stotts
Stevens
Did not play College Basketball
Taylor Jenkins