(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.) The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga fired its football team’s offensive line coach, Chris Malone, on Thursday due to a racist tweet criticizing voting rights activist Stacey Abrams.
The tweet, which has since been deleted along with Malone’s Twitter account, was captured and reposted by Chattanooga Holler and eventually caught the attention of the university.
Head coach Rusty Wright and Director of Athletics Mark Wharton issued statements announcing Malone’s firing and condemning his words.
"Our football program has a clear set of standards," Wright said in a statement posted to social media. "Those standards include respecting others. It is a message our players hear daily. It is a standard I will not waiver on. What was posted on social media by a member of my staff is unacceptable and not any part of what I stand for or what Chattanooga Football stands for. Life is bigger than football and as leaders of young men we have to set that example, first and foremost. With that said, effectively immediately, that individual is no longer a part of my staff."
In the tweet, Malone criticized Abrams’ physical appearance and mocked her 2018 gubernatorial loss to Brian Kemp in Georgia. Abrams endorsed Democratic senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, both of whom won their runoff races this week.
“University faculty and staff are expected to lead in a way that achieves and maintains a respectful and tolerant, civil campus environment,” University Chancellor Steven Angle said in a statement. “The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga does not tolerate and unequivocally condemns discrimination and hatred in all forms.”
Malone spent two years at Chattanooga as the team’s offensive line coach. He has also spent time with Old Dominion, James Madison, Virginia State and others.