UTSA Suspends Men's Basketball Coach Austin Claunch After His Arrest on Suspicion of DWI; Nick Bowman Takes Over as Interim Coach
The university announced the suspension Wednesday, less than a week before the Roadrunners open their season Monday at San Jose State.
UTSA has suspended men's basketball coach Austin Claunch after he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the school announced on Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to USA TODAY's report of the announcement. Assistant coach Nick Bowman will serve as interim coach while the university is, in its words, "reviewing the circumstances and will determine appropriate next steps." Claunch was arrested on Oct. 27, per multiple reports cited by USA TODAY.
"UTSA Athletics holds its coaches, staff, and student-athletes to high standards of conduct and accountability," athletic director Lisa Campos said in the university's news release, as published. "We take this matter seriously and will address it in accordance with university policies and procedures." Claunch, 36, apologized in the same release: "I made a grave error in judgment, and I deeply regret my actions and the disappointment I have caused," he said. "I sincerely apologize to the young men I have privilege of coaching, my fellow coaches and colleagues, President (Taylor) Eighmy, Dr. Lisa Campos and the entire Roadrunner community." Both quotes are carried here exactly as the release published them.
The timing lands in the middle of game week. The JB Replay reported that Claunch ran practice on Wednesday before the suspension was announced, and that UTSA opens its season on Monday at San Jose State, the first of eight November games. The Roadrunners had shown well in the preseason, going 2-1 in three scrimmages including an 85-73 win at Incarnate Word last weekend, with 14 new players on a 15-man roster, the Replay reported. Bowman, who has worked with Claunch for two seasons at UTSA and five at Nicholls State, according to BVM Sports' summary of the announcement, now leads the team into the opener while the university reviews the matter. The arrest is a suspicion reported by the school and the outlets above; no court outcome has been reported.
