NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Wake Forest -Head baseball coach Tom Walter apologized after TV cameras caught him who seems to use a gay slur during his Demon Deacons’ NCAA tournament games against Tennessee.
Walter said he didn’t watch the video that became viral on social media and said he doesn’t remember the moment during the game.
But he acknowledged that his “language does not reflect my values or the standards of this program.”
“I’m very sorry for my outbreak in frustration last night, and I acknowledge the damage and disappointment it has caused,” Walter’s statement issued by Wake Forest. “I own the consequences and I apologize for the University of Tennessee, to wake Forest University and Sec & ACC.”
CLICK HERE for more sports cover at Foxnews.com
Wake Forest Demon Deacon’s main coach Tom Walter stands for National Anthem before a game against Stanford Cardinal at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. (Steven Branscombe/USA Today Sports)
Wake Forest Athletic Director John Currie also issued a statement.
“I am both surprised and deeply disappointed with our main baseball trainer Tom Walter for his outbreak during yesterday’s baseball match,” the statement states. “I feel bad for those who are most wounded by such words. I talked to coach Walter immediately after the game and again this morning to tackle this incident, which is completely out of character for him and does not meet the standards of the Wake Forest Athletics, Wake Forest University or Atlantic Coast Conference.”
Coastal Carolina Baseball Trainer calls Floridas Kevin O’Sullivan after tournament outbreaks: ‘Bully’
Walter’s outburst came at a crucial moment for Demon Deacons Monday night with the volunteers up 6-2 and their star first Baseman Andrew Fischer at the bowl. After Walter had some words with the home plate judge, cameras were panned to Wake Forest Dugout, where Walter seemed to shout a gay slur with Fischer on the plate.
Wake Forest Demon Deacon’s main coach Tom Walter on the field before a game against Stanford Cardinal at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. (Steven Branscombe/USA Today Sports)
Vols-left-handed hitter continued to crush a two-race home on a 1-2 count to expand Tennessee’s lead to 8-2. Tennessee won with 11-5 and eliminated Wake Forest from the NCAA tournament.
In its 16th season leading the Demon Deacons, the Walter program’s second leader leader in victories is 493 after this previous campaign.
Wake Forest has consistently produced Major League talent, including the first five round MLB drafts in 2023 and 2024.
Wake Forest Demon Deacon’s main coach Tom Walter before a game against Stanford Cardinal at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. (Steven Branscombe/USA Today Sports)
Walter is only one of three active head coaches in the country to lead three different programs to the NCAA tournament. He coached earlier in George Washington and New Orleans.
