Texas Wesleyan baseball coach fired after rejecting recruit over Colorado’s pot laws

Texas Wesleyan’s baseball coach, Mike Jeffcoat, was fired Thursday thanks in part to a response he sent to a high school baseball recruit from Colorado. The potential recruit, Gavin Bell, sent a letter expressing interest in Texas Wesleyan. Jeffcoat responded by saying he doesn’t recruit prospects from Colorado due to past drug testing issues:

Colorado is one of nine states that has legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. After Jeffcoat’s response made the rounds on social media, the school issued an official response condoning the coach’s discrimination Wednesday evening:

We are aware of the email sent by our baseball coach, and the comments he made are in no way a reflection of Texas Wesleyan University, its values, or its recruiting practices.

This is a personnel matter and it is currently under investigation. It is our university policy to not discuss personnel matters, but we want to reiterate that this email does not reflect our values and we do not condone discrimination. This includes discrimination on the basis of race, color, origin, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, or sexuality; or the political legislation of one’s home state. We are committed to providing an inclusive campus for all of our students, faculty, staff, visitors, potential students and their families.

On Thursday morning, the school announced Jeffcoat’s firing at an official press conference, citing “his remarks as well as the NAIA violations under his watch.”

CBS4 in Denver sat down with Bell, a senior at Cherokee Trail High School.

“That’s not what I’m about,” Bell told the station. “I’m about playing baseball and getting good grades in school. Back then, I wasn’t even 18 to have any say in this, and now it’s being brought upon me.”

For now, Bell might have to wait on being recruited by Texas Wesleyan, at least until the school hires Jeffcoat’s replacement.