A college football coach was fired after he made a disrespectful social media post directed toward Stacey Abrams. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Chris Malone has been terminated because, in a since-deleted Twitter post, he referred to the former Georgia gubernatorial candidate as “Fat Albert” and “Big Girl.”
The Chattanooga Holler captured the tweet before Malone got the chance to delete it.
Malone was in just his second year serving as Chattanooga’s offensive line coach.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chancellor Steven R. Angle released a statement:
“Yesterday Chris Malone, a UTC football coach, posted a Tweet regarding Stacey Abrams that was hateful, hurtful and untrue. Coach Malone is no longer a part of the University. UTC faculty and staff are expected to lead in a way that achieves and maintains a respectful, tolerant and civil campus environment. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga does not tolerate and unequivocally condemns discrimination and hatred in all forms.”
UTC Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Mark Wharton also chimed in:
“Last night, a totally inappropriate social media post by a member of our football staff was brought to my attention. The entire post was appalling. The sentiments in that post do not represent the values of our football program, our Athletics department or our University. With that said, effective immediately, that individual is no longer a part of the program.”
Adding to the dismissal of Malone was UTC Head Football Coach Rusty Wright:
“Our football program has a clear set of standards. Those standards include respecting others. It is a message our players hear daily. It is a standard I will not waver on. What was posted on social media by a member of my staff is unacceptable and not any part of what I stand for or what Chattanooga Football stands for. Life is bigger than football and as leaders of young men, we have to set that example, first and foremost. With that said, effective immediately, that individual is no longer a part of my staff.”