Texas Tech Suspends Mark Adams For Insensitive Comments Ahead of Big 12 Tournament

Texas Tech University announced on Sunday afternoon that men’s basketball head coach Mark Adams has been suspended. Pete Thamel and KCBD News report that Adams said a racially insensitive comment towards a player recently.

Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams has been suspended, sources tell @KCBD11

Suspension is caused by a comment from Adams to one of his players

— Ethan Bock (@ethanbock_) March 5, 2023

It’s unknown how long Adams will be suspended for but with Texas Tech needing to win the conference tournament this week, it appears as Adams’ season coaching is over.

Press release from Texas Tech:

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.

Texas Tech earned a 9-seed in the Big 12 Tournament and will play West Virginia in the first round in Kansas City. The Mountaineers and Red Raiders will tipoff at 7 p.m. on ESPN2/U on Wednesday.