LUBBOCK, TX — Mark Adams has stepped down as head coach of the Texas Tech men's basketball program.
In a press release, Adams addressed the media. "My lifelong goal was to help and be a positive influence on my players and to be a part of the Texas Tech men's basketball team," Adams said. "However, both the University and I believe this incident has become a distraction for the Texas Tech men's basketball team and the University, which I care about so deeply."
Adams was suspended on Sunday, March 5, after an incident involving one of his players at practice. During the incident, Mark Adams quoted the Bible to an athlete during the practice to be more receptive to coaching and referenced Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents, and slaves serving their masters,” according to the Texas Tech release.
When Adams learned that the player was deeply disgruntled with the exchange, he gathered the team together and explained the context of the situation before apologizing. Later in the week, Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt learned of the incident. He issued Adams a written reprimand but then made the decision to suspend the coach to conduct a "more thorough inquiry of Adams' interactions with his players and staff."
Following this inquiry, Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt determined that the racially insensitive comment was unintentional and an isolated incident.
Mark Adams
(Credit: espn.com)
While the situation does not look good for Mark Adams or Texas Tech University, Adams showed once again how much he cares about the Red Raiders. Instead of being a distraction to his team, he now removes himself from the situation entirely. Whether he was right or wrong for what he did, he did negatively impact the team with these actions after a disappointing basketball season.
Whichever direction Texas Tech chooses to go in its head coaching search is anybody’s guess at this point, but rumors are already circulating around about a certain coach recently fired from the University of Texas.
As a Texas Tech Alumni myself, I can say that I vehemently oppose the rehiring of that particular branch of Texas Tech’s basketball history. This is an opportunity to turn the page completely on the Chris Beard/Mark Adams era of Texas Tech basketball. Although they did help the Red Raiders reach a National Championship game, this is an opportunity for a breath of fresh air for the University, the Alumni, and the rest of the fanbase.
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