GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) Mark Adams is returning to the sideline as an assistant at East Carolina, less than a year after resigning as Texas Tech's head coach for making racially insensitive comments toward one of his players.

“We feel very fortunate about the addition of Mark Adams to our program and coaching staff,” East Carolina coach Mark Schwartz said in a statement on Friday. “His success in this game at all levels of college basketball, both as an assistant and head coach speaks for itself. He will bring so much experience and knowledge to both our coaching staff and student athletes. Coach Adams’ defense first mentality fits perfectly with our program’s foundation.”

Adams made a name for himself as a defensive mastermind while helping Texas Tech reach the 2019 national championship game as associate head coach on Chris Beard's staff. Adams was elevated to head coach when Beard left for Texas in 2021 and led the Red Raiders to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 his first season.