Texas Tech has suspended men’s basketball coach Mark Adams for what the school calls an “inappropriate, unacceptable and racially insensitive comment.”
According to the school, Adams encouraged the player to accept coaching by “referring to Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents and slaves serving their masters.” Adams apologized to the team after learning he was offended by the player’s use of the Bible verse, an ESPN source said.
Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt was informed of the incident. He issued a written reprimand to Adams, but then decided to suspend the coach pending a “detailed investigation into Adams’ relationship with his players and staff.”
Texas Tech ended its regular season with a loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, the Red Raiders’ third straight loss. After a 10-2 start, Texas Tech is 5-13 in Big 12 play and 16-15 overall. The Red Raiders will face West Virginia in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.
Adams has come under pressure from influential people around the program over Texas Tech’s disappointing season, sources told ESPN. He signed a contract last spring that runs through the 2026-27 season and will pay him $15.5 million over five years.
If Adams were to be fired without cause, he would be owed 60% of what was left on his contract: more than $7 million.
Adams, 66, graduated from Texas Tech in 1979 and has coached with the Red Raiders since 2016, first as an assistant under Chris Byrd and replacing Beard the past two seasons. He also spent two seasons as Tubby Smith’s program director of basketball operations from 2013 to 2015.
Adams was a longtime college coach in Texas before making stops at five schools over a 30-year career at Texas State.
