Texas Tech suspends basketball coach for racially insensitive comment

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Texas Tech University has suspended mens’ basketball coach Mark Adams for what the college is looking an “inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive” comment.

At a training consultation with a pupil athlete closing week, Adams referenced Bible verses about staff, lecturers, folks and enslaved other folks serving their masters, in line with college officers.

Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt issued a written reprimand after which adopted with a call to droop Adams “to conduct a more thorough inquiry of Adams’ interactions with his players and staff.” Adams has spoken with the group in regards to the comment, in line with college officers.

Adams defended his interplay with the coed athlete in an interview with Stadium, a sports activities news community, announcing it was once now not racist and that he was once quoting a Bible verse.

“I said that in the Bible that Jesus talks about how we all have bosses, and we all are servants,” Adams told Stadium.

The Tech Tech basketball coach may be being investigated for allegedly spitting on a participant right through a recreation previous within the season.

Adams is in his 2d season as head coach at Texas Tech after taking up when Chris Beard left for the University of Texas at Austin in 2021. Beard was fired by UT previous this yr after he was once charged with a third-degree prison for circle of relatives violence.

After closing season’s luck, he signed a five-year, $15.5 million contract that runs throughout the 2026-27 season. If Texas Tech have been to fireside Adams with out motive, the college would owe him 60% of the rest contract, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported.

Adams’ suspension comes as Texas universities are reviewing their variety, fairness and inclusion practices in accordance with a caution from Gov. Greg Abbott. In a memo to public university leaders, Abbott mentioned taking into account variety in hiring violated federal and state employment regulations, and that hiring must be according to benefit on my own. Texas Tech is reconsidering its use of DEI evaluation rubrics, particularly, after dealing with backlash from a conservative schooling advocacy team.

Disclosure: Texas Tech University and University of Texas at Austin had been monetary supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news group this is funded partly by way of donations from participants, foundations and company sponsors. Financial supporters play no function within the Tribune’s journalism. Find a whole list of them here.