Penn State men’s basketball coach apologizes for racially insensitive remark to Black player

“I need to get some of this pressure off you. I want to loosen the noose that’s around your neck.”

• By Andrew Destin/WPSU

(State College) — Penn State men’s basketball coach Patrick Chambers has apologized to former player Rasir Bolton via Twitter for a racially insensitive remark about a noose from the 2018-19 basketball season.

According to the The Undefeated, in January 2019 after a poor game by Bolton, the then-freshman starting point guard remembers Chambers said, “I need to get some of this pressure off you. I want to loosen the noose that’s around your neck.”

Bolton, who is Black, tweeted Monday morning about Chambers’ comment, which Bolton says led him to transfer from Penn State to Iowa State after his freshman year.

“I tell this story because it is not alleged,” Bolton said. “It was admitted to and documented.”

Bolton said he was speaking out because players need to be better protected in situations like this one.

In Chambers’ apology, he said he realizes the pain his words caused both Bolton and his family.

“The reference I made was hurtful, insensitive and unacceptable,” Chambers said. “I cannot apologize enough for what I said, and I will carry that forever.”

Penn State Athletics’ vice president for intercollegiate athletics, Sandy Barbour, has since released a statement about the situation.

“Patrick Chambers deeply regrets the words he chose and understands the pain he caused Rasir Bolton and his family,” Barbour said. “Patrick has stated that he is committed to educating himself and he is actively working to learn and grow, which will be imperative to his future success at Penn State.”