Kansas State women's soccer coach Colleen Corbin has been suspended for two weeks following the use of a racial slur, even though her use of the term was objecting to its use.
According to The Mercury, which cited sources with knowledge of the situation, Corbin had asked players not to play pregame music that included some swear words, including the N-word, before her team's March 7 exhibition versus Arkansas. During her conversation with players about the music, Corbin reportedly said the N-word, and the players complained to the university.
Corbin later used the word again when relaying the situation during a staff meeting, which led assistant coach and goalkeepers coach Maddie Dobyns, who was hired by Corbin this past offseason, to resign from the team.
Corbin has since been suspended from the team for two weeks after a meeting with athletics director Gene Taylor on March 23.
“Coach Colleen Corbin was suspended for two weeks following offensive lyrics played during warm-ups before a spring match,” the department said in a statement to The Mercury. “While addressing the issue, the coach inappropriately repeated the offensive lyrics. The incident was reported to the University’s Civil Rights and Title IX office, and K-State Athletics took action, issuing a suspension. Athletics takes these matters seriously and expects coaches and players to respect others.”
Taylor would not say whether the suspension was with or without pay.
Corbin is entering her second season as head coach of the Wildcat soccer team and is coming off what was perceived as a successful 2025 campaign.
