Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin announces the suspensions of two assistants.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M has suspended two assistant football coaches for two weeks for what they described as a “failed attempt at humor” this week at a football clinic for women.
Coach Kevin Sumlin announced Friday night that offensive line coach Jim Turner and special teams coordinator Jeff Banks have been suspended without pay and will have to serve 20 hours of community service.
The assistant coaches’ presentation at the Chalk Talk clinic Wednesday night included slides with tips for blocking that had double entendre and what could be construed as sexual references.
“There is absolutely no place in our program or in our university community for inappropriate conduct or degrading comments towards women, or anyone, regardless of intent,” Sumlin said.
Sumlin said he attended the event but was interacting with attendees and was unaware of the content in the presentation by Turner and Banks until Friday.
“On behalf of Aggie football, I want to apologize for the comments at Chalk Talk and also for my failure to review their individual presentations,” Sumlin said. “I want to thank the almost 700 women who came out this week who not only participated in the program but who supported a worthy cause in the Twin City Mission.”
Turner rejoined Texas A&M this offseason after two seasons out of coaching. He had previously worked with the Aggies from 2008-11, and then was offensive line coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2012-13. He was fired after a bullying scandal that involved offensive linemen Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito.
Banks has been with A&M since 2013 coaching tight ends and special teams.
“We want to sincerely apologize to the passionate Aggie fans and to women everywhere for our failed attempt at humor during this week’s Aggie Football Chalk Talk and fundraiser,” Turner and Banks said in a joint statement. “We clearly understand now that our comments and slides were not appropriate or consistent with the values of our football program or our Department. We must do better, and we will.”
The Aggies will begin preseason practice next week and open the season Sept. 3 at home against UCLA.