By Texas Tech has suspended men’s head basketball coach Mark Adams pending an investigation into an “inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment” made to a player last week.
Adams told Stadium’s Jeff Goodman on Sunday that he was quoting a Bible verse when he told a player there is “always a master and a servant.”
Texas Tech released the following statement when it announced the suspension earlier today:
Texas Tech University has suspended men’s basketball head coach Mark Adams in relation to the use of an inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment 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. 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.
Upon learning of the incident, Hocutt addressed this matter with Adams and issued him a written reprimand. Hocutt subsequently made the decision to suspend Adams effective immediately in order to conduct a more thorough inquiry of Adams’ interactions with his players and staff.
“I was quoting the scripture,” Adams told Goodman. “It was a private conversation about coaching and when you have a job, and being coachable.”
“I said that in the Bible that Jesus talks about how we all have bosses, and we all are servants. I was quoting the Bible about that.”
In his first season as HC after being promoted once Chris Beard left to take the Texas job, Adams led the Red Raiders to a 27-10 record and a Sweet 16 appearance. They’ve struggled this season, though, and this isn’t the only incident the school is looking into.
Adams allegedly spit on a player earlier this year. He explained to Goodman that he had “been to the doctor, had a bad cough and slobbered on the player during the game.”
One of Goodman’s sources said that Adams told the player, “I can spit on you whenever I want to.”
When informed of this, Adams told Goodman, “I don’t remember ever saying that.”
Texas Tech goes into the Big 12 Tournament with a 16-15 record. The Red Raiders will face West Virginia on Wednesday.
