Texas Tech’s Mark Adams steps down after controversy over Bible reference

Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Mark Adams resigned Wednesday evening pursuing controversy about a Bible reference he used referencing a slave and grasp when speaking to a participant.

Adams was at first suspended for the comment above the weekend, but items went it a action further. He was also accused of spitting on a player – something he denied performing.

“My lifelong objective was to assist and be a constructive impact on my players, and to be a element of the Texas Tech men’s basketball team,” Adams claimed. “Having said that, the two the College and I believe that this incident has come to be a distraction for the Texas Tech men’s basketball staff and the University, which I care about so deeply.”

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Texas Tech Crimson Raiders head mentor Mark Adams on the sidelines in the initially half towards the West Virginia Mountaineers at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, Jan. 25, 2023. (Michael C. Johnson-United states of america These days Sporting activities)

Adams was suspended for making use of what the school termed “an inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment” towards a pupil-athlete. The school claimed Adams was making an attempt to motivate the college student-athlete, who was not named, “to be a lot more receptive to coaching.” The school explained Adams “referenced Bible verses about employees, academics, mother and father, and slaves serving their masters.”

The mentor defined to Stadium on Sunday he was quoting a verse from the Bible and instructed one particular of the gamers there is “constantly a grasp and a servant.” He included that he was just “quoting scripture” when conversing about a participant staying coachable.

“I explained that in the Bible that Jesus talks about how we all have bosses, and we all are servants,” Adams instructed Stadium. “I was quoting the Bible about that.”

Texas Tech Crimson Raiders head mentor Mark Adams gestures to his workforce on a participate in towards the Oklahoma State Cowboys through the 2nd fifty percent at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Feb. 8, 2023. (Alonzo Adams-Usa These days Sports activities)

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Texas Tech mentioned in a statement that Adams apologized for the incident, but he clarified that he tackled the difficulty but “did not apologize.” 

Adams took the head coaching career at the start of the 2021-22 year, changing Chris Beard who took the Texas Longhorns career. The Crimson Raiders created it to the nationwide championship in 2019, only to get rid of to Virginia.

He was also less than fireplace for an additional alleged incident in which he was accused of spitting on a participant.

Adams stated he may possibly have “slobbered” on a player throughout the game by accident as he was battling a chilly, according to Stadium. He told the outlet he did not bear in mind telling the player, “I can spit on you when I want to.”

Texas Tech Red Raiders head mentor Mark Adams reacts soon after the game towards the TCU Horned Frogs at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, Feb. 25, 2023. (Michael C. Johnson-United states Nowadays Athletics)

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Corey Williams was named interim mentor.

Texas Tech completed the typical period 16-16 overall and 5-13 in the Huge 12 Meeting.