Texas State Basketball Coach Resigns Amid Investigation

Texas State University’s men’s basketball coach has resigned after an investigation into allegations he had made “racially biased comments.”

Keff Ciardello, of the Austin American-Statesman, tweeted out Tuesday’s press release from the Texas State athletic department. The release announced that athletic director Larry Teis had accepted Danny Kaspar’s resignation, and that Terrence Johnson would serve as the head coach in 2020-21.

According to CBS Sports, the investigation began June 4, when former point guard Jaylen Shead tweeted “let’s talk about what I and other players dealt w playing for Danny Kasper at Texas State.”

According to ESPN, Shead, who transferred to Washington State in 2019, said Kaspar would implore players to move faster by telling them to act as if a “brown man with a [turban] and an AK-47” was in the gym. He also allegedly threatened to have an international player deported, among other insensitive comments.

"I could overlook the way he disregarded the rules and our health," Shead tweeted, according to ESPN. "But I could not turn away from the many racially insensitive things that were said to me and other teammates."

Teis released a statement in June, saying he finds the allegations “deeply troubling.”

“I, and the entire Department of Athletics staff, take the concerns expressed by our former student-athletes very seriously,” Teis said. “At my request, the university has launched a formal investigation through the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX.  It is our top priority to fully cooperate with the investigation.

“The Department of Athletics is committed to strengthening our university culture that values and supports diversity, equity and inclusion for our student-athletes, staff, and community.”

On Sept. 1, the university announced the formation of the Dr. Johnny E. Brown Committee on Racial Equality, which is “charged with developing actionable recommendations to foster an inclusive culture in Texas State Athletics.”

“The committee will explore initiatives to strengthen education and development opportunities, promote voter registration and voting, and engage with the community regarding policing and relations,” the announcement reads. “Areas of focus will be challenges and vulnerabilities, best practices and influencers.”

Kaspar, 65, had left Stephen F. Austin to become the Texas State coach in 2013-14. The Bobcats went 21-11 last season.