Mark Adams steps down as Texas Tech head coach

Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams has stepped down from his position, according to a release from the school. The news comes following a March 5 suspension of Adams, which was in relation to the use of an, “inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment,” that he made toward a player.

Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt determined that the racially insensitive comment was unintentional and an isolated incident, per the release. Following the comment, Adams immediately apologized to the team.

“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 the release. “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 told Stadium’s Jeff Goodman on March 5 that he was, “quoting scripture,” to the player and that the Bible said, “Jesus talks about how we all have bosses, and we all are servants. I was quoting the bible about that.” Adams did not apologize for his comments, per Stadium’s report, as he claimed to be explaining his words to the team.

Hocutt was notified and immediately addressed the matter, according to the report. But the report did not only include the comments Adams made. One player accused Adams of spitting on them during a game. Adams claimed to have a bad cough and slobbered on the player during the game, but those close to the situation claim otherwise.

“I can spit on you whenever I want to,” Adams said to the player, per the report. But Adams claimed to not remember saying that.

A tenure short-lived for Adams

Adams came to Texas Tech in 2016, as an assistant coach under the then-hired Chris Beard. Adams was an assistant coach for the Red Raiders for five years under Beard and was part of a 112-55 run that featured three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a Final Four and national championship game appearance in 2019. Beard left for in-state rival Texas after the 2020-21 season.

Following Beard’s departure, Adams was promoted to lead the program as its new head coach. Adams went 27-10 and made the Sweet 16 in his first season with the program but Year 2 did not go as planned. Despite a 10-2 start to the season, Texas Tech saw things quickly go south, losing eight straight games to open up Big 12 play.

The Red Raiders got hot down the stretch, winning six of eight games but still ended the year on a three-game losing streak. Texas Tech finished Adams’ second season at 16-15 overall and 5-13 in Big 12 play, earning the No. 9 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.