Texas Tech’s suspended men’s basketball coach Mark Adams has tried to explain the incident that led to his discipline and addressed a new allegation that he spit on a player.
Adams was suspended for using what the school called «an inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment» toward a student-athlete. The school said Adams was trying to encourage the student-athlete, who was not identified, «to be more receptive to training.» The school said Adams «referenced Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents, and slaves serving their masters.»
The coach explained to Stadium on Sunday that he was quoting a Bible verse, telling one of the players that «there is always a master and a servant.» He added that he was only «quoting scripture» when he talked about a player being coachable.
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Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams gives instructions to his team against Kansas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lawrence, Kansas on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
«I said that in the Bible Jesus talks about we all have bosses and we’re all servants,» Adams told Stadium. «I was quoting the Bible about it.»
Texas Tech said in a statement that Adams apologized for the incident, but clarified that he addressed the issue but «did not apologize.»
Adams assumed the head coaching job at the beginning of the 2021-22 season, replacing Chris Beard who took over the job from the Texas Longhorns. The Red Raiders made it to the national championship in 2019 only to lose to Virginia.
Texas Tech coach Mark Adams yells during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Norman, Oklahoma. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
He was also criticized for another alleged incident in which he was accused of spitting on a player.
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Adams said he may have «drooled» on a player during the game by accident while battling a cold, according to to the stadium. He told the outlet that he did not remember telling the player: «I can spit on you whenever I want.»
The coach was suspended on Sunday.
«Texas Tech University has suspended men’s basketball head coach Mark Adams in connection with his use of an inappropriate, unacceptable and racially insensitive comment last week,» the school said in a statement.
«On Friday, the director of athletics, Kirby Hocutt, learned of an incident involving a practice session between Adams and a member of the men’s basketball team. Adams was encouraging the student-athlete to be more receptive to training and referred to Bible verses about workers, masters, parents, and slaves serving their masters, Adams immediately addressed this with the team and apologized.
Texas Tech coach Mark Adams yells to players during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
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«Upon learning of the incident, Hocutt addressed this matter with Adams and issued him a written reprimand. Hocutt subsequently made the decision to immediately suspend Adams in order to further investigate Adams’ interactions with his players and staff.» .