Texas Tech Suspends Head Basketball Coach Mark Adams Following Racially Insensitive Comment to Player

Texas Tech University has suspended head basketball coach Mark Adams following an incident involving an inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment made to a player.

The incident occurred in a meeting between Adams and a player, who wasn’t identified, the school said in a news release. According to the statement, 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.

Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said he was made aware of the incident Friday and issued a written reprimand before deciding to suspend Adams to investigate further. The school did not immediately say who would fill in for Adams as coach for the Big 12 tournament.

Texas Tech has launched an investigation into the incident and is taking the matter seriously. The school has also emphasized its commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students, faculty, and staff.

Adams has been the head coach of the Texas Tech basketball team since 2019. He previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Texas and the University of Houston. It is unclear at this time what the outcome of the investigation will be.