LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech suspended basketball head coach Mark Adams Sunday for “an inappropriate, unacceptable and racially insensitive comment” he made to a player.
Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said he was aware of Friday’s incident and issued a written reprimand before deciding to suspend Adams to investigate further.
The incident occurred in a meeting between Adams and an unidentified player, the school said in a news release.
“Adams encouraged the student-athlete to be more receptive to training and referenced Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents, and slaves serving their masters,” the statement said. “Adams immediately addressed this with the team and apologized.”
The school did not immediately say who would replace Adams as Big 12 Tournament coach. Texas Tech (16-15, 5-13 Big 12) is the ninth seed and plays West Virginia on Wednesday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
Adams, 66, is in his second season. He replaced Chris Beard, who left to coach at Texas, his alma mater. Beard was fired this season by the Longhorns after being charged with felony domestic violence; Prosecutors later dropped the charge.
The Red Raiders made the Sweet 16 in Adams’ first season, but started 0-8 in the Big 12 this season. The team’s hopes of a fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament are slim.
Three years ago, Pat Chambers resigned from Penn State after one of its former players revealed that the coach said he wanted to “loosen the noose around your neck” by talking to the player about how to help him reduce stress. Chambers was hired to coach Florida Gulf Coast this season.
During the 2020-21 season, Creighton coach Greg McDermott apologized for telling his team after a loss to “stay on the plantation” as a way of reminding them to stick together. McDermott was suspended for one game.
