Updated: Texas State Head Basketball Coach, Danny Kaspar, Accused of Racially Insensitive Comments
On Thursday June 4th, Jaylen Shead, a former player from the Texas State Men’s Basketball program tweeted about his experiences while playing under Head Coach Danny Kaspar.
Shead played for Texas State Men’s Basketball during the 2018-2019 season and transferred to Washington State for his final year.
In a post on Twitter Thursday, Shead said Kaspar was the reason he transferred before his senior season.
“I spent two years at Texas State,” Shead said in his tweet. “For me, the experience was shocking. I could overlook the way Coach Kaspar treated players in most regards. I could overlook the lies he fed us to get us there and to keep us there. I could overlook the way he disregarded the rules and our health. But I could not turn away from the many racially insensitive things that were said to me and other teammates. I had never seen someone abuse their power in such a way before, especially someone who claimed he ‘cared about us.’ These things happened so much on a daily basis, we became numb as it was normal.”
“His words were not only insensitive to the black community, but others as well. I chose to leave because I knew I’d eventually say something and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to play anywhere or get a coaching job as I want to one day. But I am doing a disservice to those who come after. I watched as many people ignored or toned out his ways, but no more.”
In a post on Facebook, former Olympian Charles Austin, who recently won a Twitter poll as the greatest Texas State Athlete of all time, spoke out against the Head Coach.
“Ever since I came to college, I have personally experienced, witness and heard racist remarks that were said by coaches, school administrators and students who attended the university,” [sic] said Austin. “From my personal experience with Danny Kasper, I am not surprised! Jaylen Shead I appreciate you speaking out.”
An anonymous former player spoke with M&G staff to back up Jaylen Shead’s comments by sharing his own experiences playing for Coach Kaspar, stating “The worst coach I ever played for” and “[He] was always racist against us. [He] was racist and disrespectful to my mom.”
After posting this article we were able to connect with another former player that wished to share his experience.
Maljhum McCrea played for the Bobcats during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
McCrea played in 41 games total, including 15 starts. Before playing at Texas State, he Attended Norland High School and led them to back-to-back state championships. He played at St. Petersburg College for two years after High School. He earned back-to-back FCSAA Player of the Year Awards and JUCO All-American honorable mention selection his freshman year.
Below is a summary of his alleged experience under Coach Kaspar.
“My two years playing under Coach Kasper were the two most hardest and overwhelming years of my basketball career.
I experienced a man who would openly boast about how much money he had or made a year and how our little scholarships were both “nothing and meant nothing” and that he could have us shipped out and another person in our shoes before we could even blink.
He constantly threatened to transfer players. He would verbally attack players and their ethnic backgrounds.
The man didn’t care. He personally told me to “run like the cops were behind me” and that “I’m used to it down there in dada county” which is the county in Miami where I’m from.
He would tell me “not to dunk the ball, we don’t play that kind of basketball”. I don’t know what he was referring to,but this guy stressed me out so much I started smoking marijuana to cope with the PTSD I experienced from this man.
Imagine the thing you love to do ,and would die doing controlled by a dictator. You either march to the beat of his drum or your ass didn’t march at all aka play.
He fired any and all staff that spoke their mind. It’s like you could not be an individual around him. He fired both coaches that recruited me.
He talks to his assistant coaches like prisoners telling grown men to shut the hell up and holding their jobs over their heads.
Both years I played there we wanted to report him, but were too afraid nothing would happen and that we would lose playing time or even worse, our scholarship.
Kaspar struck fear into the hearts of his players and coaches. We had the potential to be really good, but it was Kaspar’s way or no way”
Why Now?
“Why now? Well because I’m not alone. I always felt alone in the issue. I could recall me and my teammates having long hour conversations about Kaspar. About how he wasn’t right and how something needed to be done. About how we needed to do it, but when it came time I was left standing alone. The only one still ready to go through with it and stand up.
I felt alone like Kunta Kinta the slave from “Roots”, the only one brave enough to fight for freedom regardless of the consequences, but the feeling of being alone on the issue always discouraged me so I held my silence and moved on with my life.”
Regarding Alleged Health Concerns Being Ignored:
“I was diagnosed with blood clots, and you wanna know what the only thing Kaspar told me? You better start taking books more seriously. He had no concern for my well being or if I would ever play again. That shit right there crushed me”
On What He Believes Should Happen:
“Kaspar needs to feel what it feels like to know the hurt and discomfort and pain he caused coaches and players for years before and after me. He needs to understand what it is to work and play for himself.
I don’t want anything bad to happen to him, but I want him to know what it feels like to be hindered as an Individual, as a player, as a coach.
He needs to listen to his wife because thank god for that lady.
She would bake and bring sweets for us, and just always plant sweet words of wisdom and kindness to calm me personally. I can’t speak for anyone but me. She saved me from whooping his ass and that’s no lie.
I’m blessed and by the grace of God after the corona clear and they open up this beautiful world again; I’m going to try out and make the Miami Heat roster.
You’ll see me on TNT and will have a real interview about how Kaspar helped and prepared me for the adversity that life brings in the world of sports.
God got me, and Kaspar helped me more than he hurt me. I learned so much and grew as a man because of this.”
Since the original publishing of the article, University SID, Rick Poulter, has responded to our request for comment stating “I understand that we both are in delicate situations regarding this subject about Coach Kaspar,” while directing us to the university released statement.
As previously mentioned in the original version of this article, a FOIA request was sent to TSUS General Council for a copy of Coach Kaspar’s contract. We have received this as of Monday, June 8 and a copy of it has been attached below including a couple screenshots of possible clauses that may be considered during the investigation.
This is a developing story. As we learn more and more players come forward, we will update this article.
