The University of Tennessee in Chattanooga fired an assistant coach after posting a tweet despising former Georgia candidate for governor and activist Stacey Abrams, the school announced in a 45-second video.
Chris Malone, who was the offensive line coach for Mocs, multiplied Abrams while trading election fraud claims in a tweet now deleted on Tuesday night.
“Congratulations to GA and Fat Albert @staceyabrams for really showing America the real cheating at the election, again !!! Enjoy the Big Girl buffet !! You won !!! I hope the money is good, not yet Governor! “he said, according to the screenshots of the tweet.
University Chancellor Steven Angle condemned his tweet, calling it “hateful, painful and untrue” in a video two days later.
“Coach Malone is no longer part of this university,” Angle said on Thursday. “University professors and staff are expected to lead in a way that achieves and maintains a respectful and tolerant environment on the civilian campus.”
“The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga does not tolerate and unequivocally condemn discrimination and hatred of all forms,” Angle added.
The team’s head coach, Rusty Wright, too he slammed Malone’s tweet In a statement on Thursday.
“What was posted on social media by a member of my staff is unacceptable and is not part of what Chattanooga Football represents or represents,” he said. “Life is bigger than football and, as youth leaders, we need to set this example in the first place. However, effective immediately, that individually is no longer part of my staff.”
According to the deleted biographies page of the school, Malone was in his second year as an assistant coach in the team. Malone, who has coached various schools since 1998, had an internship at Virginia State University, a black historical university.
Many have recognized Abrams for the recent Democratic success at the polls in Georgia, where she and grassroots organizations helped to revive the turnout which led to projected victories for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in their Senate elimination races and gave him the Senate majority party. She is credited as an instrument in the victory of President-elect Joe Biden in a traditional red state.