Donald A . Coleman Donald Alvin Coleman ( born January 11 , 1952 ) is an American entrepreneur , advertising executive and a pioneer in the growing field of multicultural advertising . Coleman is the founder , chairman and CEO of GlobalHue , the largest multicultural advertising agency in the United States , working with blue chip brands and organizations to communicate with African - American , Asian and Hispanic consumers . He is also a former American football player , having played college football at the University of Michigan from 1971 to 1973 and professional football for the New Orleans Saints and New York Jets from 1974 to 1978 . Early years . Coleman was born in Toledo , Ohio in 1952 , and grew up in that city ' s Old West End neighborhood . His mother , Dorothy Coleman , worked for the Department of Housing and Urban Development , and his father , Augustus Coleman , worked as a skycap for United Airlines and as a janitor at a library . At the suggestion of teachers at his public school , who told his parents that Coleman was not sufficiently challenged , he transferred to St . John ' s Jesuit High School and Academy . He attended St . John ' s from 1966 to 1970 where he excelled in academics and sports . Coleman was an All - City and All - State running back for St . John ' s and was recruited by multiple colleges to play football . He later recalled : " When it came time to select a university , I had about 20 coaches visiting the house , talking up their programs . I chose the University of Michigan . I received a full scholarship . " University of Michigan . Coleman enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1970 on a football scholarship . He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines under head coach Bo Schembechler from 1971 to 1973 . Coleman began the 1971 season as a backup fullback , but Schembechler moved him to defensive end in late September 1971 . Coleman played at defensive end from 1972 to 1973 and helped the Wolverines tie for first place in the Big Ten Conference both years . Although still listed as a defensive end , Schembechler described Coleman ' s role as follows in 1973 : " In our defense we use a flop - end . So Coleman is actually a pro linebacker . He has to cover the pass as part of his responsibility today more so than normal . " Coleman had 51 tackles and 52 assists for the Wolverines . Professional football . Coleman was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 16th round ( 398th overall pick ) of the 1974 NFL Draft . He played two seasons for the Saints in 1974 and 1975 , appearing in 27 NFL games . Coleman was cut by the Saints in August 1976 . He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets shortly after being released by the Saints , but he missed the entire 1976 NFL season with a left knee injury . In August 1977 , Coleman underwent surgery on his right knee , and he was placed on injured reserve status . The Jets released Coleman in June 1978 . Advertising career . While recovering from football injuries , Coleman obtained an M . B . A . degree in marketing from Hofstra University in New York in 1976 . In 1978 , he was hired as an assistant account executive at the Campbell - Ewald advertising agency in Detroit . He later recalled : " I was the only black person in account management in the office . It was boring work , but I was speedy and accurate , persevered and became a full account executive . " In 1983 , he became senior vice president and management supervisor on the Chevrolet account . Coleman next began a career in advertising directed to minority communities . He was hired in 1983 as a senior vice president and account director for Burrell Advertising , a Chicago firm specializing in advertising to minorities . In 1988 , he formed Don Coleman Associates , which became Don Coleman Advertising in 1991 . He sold a minority interest in the company and bought two additional agencies , one focused on the Asian - American market ( Innovasia Communications ) and one focused on the Hispanic market ( Montemayor y Asociados ) . He combined the companies into GlobalHue , specializing in a culture based approach to marketing . He is the chairman and chief executive of GlobalHue . In 2009 , GlobalHue ' s capitalized billings were $ 833 . 7 million . The company has approximately 300 employees in Southfield , Michigan and New York City . Its clients include Subway , the United States Navy , U . S . Census 2010 , Verizon Wireless , Merck & Co . , Inc . , Walmart and Chrysler Group . In 2009 , GlobalHue was named " Multicultural Advertising Agency of the Decade " by " Advertising Week magazine " . In 2010 , " Black Enterprise " magazine named GlobalHue the BE 100 Advertising Agency of the Year , an honor that GlobalHue also received in 1998 and 2003 . Coleman ' s daughter , Kelli Coleman , has also worked for GlobalHue since 2002 and is the vice president for business development . In 2009 , Coleman launched The Coleman Entrepreneurial Scholarship ( CES ) , which strives to promote entrepreneurship as a career choice among college students of ethnic backgrounds , particularly African - American and Hispanic . CES awards $ 50 , 000 in scholarships annually . Coleman is also a member of the External Advisory Board at the A . C . Nielsen Center Marketing Research Business School , the Board of Visitors at " The Howard University John H . Johnson School of Communications " , and the Board of Trustees for the " Charles H . Wright Museum of African American History " and the Louis Carr Internship Foundation . Since 1999 , he has served as vice chairman of the " National Action Network ( NAN ) " , where he is a contributor to the organization ' s fundraising initiatives .