Texas Tech University announced Sunday that men’s basketball coach Mark Adams has been suspended due to an “inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment” he made to a player last week. The 66-year-old Adams was reprimanded after the athletic department learned of the comments. He “immediately addressed this with the team and apologized.”

According to a press release from Texas Tech, Adams met with a player to discuss them being more receptive to coaching. During the discussion, Adams made a reference to a Bible verse that discusses “workers, teachers, parents, and slaves serving their masters.”  The statement read in part: “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.” 

Athletics director Kirby Hocutt was informed of the incident on Friday and made the decision to immediately suspend Adams, who is in the second year of his contract. The school announced that Hocutt will conduct an investigation into how Adams interacts with his staff and players; it’s unclear how long he will remain suspended.

Adams succeeded former coach Chris Beard who left the Red Raiders in 2021 for Texas. Adams is on a five-year contract reportedly worth more than $15 million. Texas Tech will face West Virginia in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.

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