Texas Tech announced Sunday that men’s basketball coach Mark Adams has been suspended for what the university said was an “inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment” he uttered to a player last week.
“On Friday, Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt was made aware of an incident regarding a coaching session between Adams and a member of the men’s basketball team,” the statement read. “Adams was encouraging the student-athlete to be more receptive to coaching and referenced Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents and slaves serving their masters. Adams immediately addressed this with the team and apologized.”
Hocutt will conduct an investigation into how Adams interacts with his staff and players, the school announced. It’s unclear how long he will remain suspended.
Adams spoke with Jeff Goodman of Stadium and related that he believes his comments were not racist. Adams claims he was quoting a Bible verse when he told one of his players that there is “always a master and a servant.”
“I was quoting the scripture,” he said.
Adams said he spoke to the team the next day after “one of my coaches said it bothered the player.” The family of the player told Hocutt of the incident last week, according to Stadium.
Adams is also being investigated for an incident earlier in the season when he allegedly spat on a player. Adams told Stadium he had gone to the doctor, had a bad cough and slobbered on the player during the game.
However, one person close to the situation said Adams responded “I can spit on you whenever I want to,” to the player, per Stadium.
“I don’t remember saying that,” Adams told Goodman.
