Mark Adams, head coach of Texas Tech men’s basketball team, has resigned after using a Bible reference during a conversation with one of the players.
“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 in a statement.
He continued, “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.”
Mark Adams officially out at Texas Tech. pic.twitter.com/gaeunI6aiI
— Brian Hamilton (@_Brian_Hamilton) March 9, 2023
Over the weekend, it was reported that Adams was suspended after he “referenced Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents, and slaves serving their masters” when talking to a player about listening to coaches.
A source told ESPN Adams issued an apology to the team after he discovered the player was upset about the reference.
The school called it an “inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment.”
Adams explained to Stadium he said “that in the Bible that Jesus talks about how we all have bosses, and we all are servants.”
He added, “I was quoting the Bible about that.”
Twitter users expressed their disapproval of his initial suspension.
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk tweeted, “So players can rap lyrics with the N word, professors can push anti-white racist screeds, and schools pay six figures for bigots like Nikole Hannah Jones to give speeches.”
He added, “But Texas Tech basketball coach Mark Adams gets suspended for quoting the Bible? Reinstate immediately!”
So players can rap lyrics with the N word, professors can push anti-white racist screeds, and schools pay six figures for bigots like Nikole Hannah Jones to give speeches.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 7, 2023
But Texas Tech basketball coach Mark Adams gets suspended for quoting the Bible?
Reinstate immediately!
The Trump Train Twitter account wrote, “Texas Tech’s head basketball coach Mark adams was suspended got using a Bible verse to motivate his players. Who else thinks he deserves a promotion?”
Texas Tech’s head basketball coach Mark adams was suspended got using a Bible verse to motivate his players.
— The Trump Train 🚂🇺🇸 (@The_Trump_Train) March 8, 2023
Who else thinks he deserves a promotion?
Another user called the move “unacceptable.”
Texas Tech's head coach, Mark Adams is suspended indefinitely because he quoted the Bible in a conversation with a player.
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) March 6, 2023
This is unacceptable.
Texas Tech completed the regular season with three losses in a row after starting 10-2, per CNN.