Texas Wesleyan fires baseball coach who rejected prospect over Colorado pot law

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Texas Wesleyan baseball coach and former major-league pitcher Mike Jeffcoat was fired Thursday after telling a Colorado recruit in an email that he would "not take a chance on student-athletes" from Colorado and alluding to the fact that marijuana is legal in the state.

Texas Wesleyan president Frederick G. Slabach told reporters at a press conference that Jeffcoat "was terminated for his remarks as well as the NAIA violations under his watch."

"This university and its athletic program does not discriminate on the basis of the public policy of any state," Slabach said. "We look at the individual student. We care about those students."

MORE: Coach rejects Colorado prospect due to state's marijuana laws

Jeffcoat, who had been the head coach at the NAIA school since 2002, told a recruit named Gavin in an email last month that Texas Wesleyan was not recruiting players from Colorado because they have "had trouble passing our drug test."

"You can thank your liberal politicians," Jeffcoat added.

Slabach said Thursday that he is attempting to reach out to the recruit.

"If that young man is watching today, I want him to know the contents of that email absolutely do not express the values of this university, and we would love to have Gavin here as a student," Slabach said.

On Wednesday, the school acknowledged the email, which had spread quickly on social media, and said that Jeffcoat was under investigation for a "personnel matter." Slabach said on Thursday that Jeffcoat was under investigation by the NAIA as well.

Texas Wesleyan athletic director Steve Trachier told reporters the school was alerted to "some infractions occurring within the program" about a week ago. Trachier said the infractions were reported to the NAIA and conference officials.

"Because it's an ongoing investigation, I can't share many of the details with you," Trachier said. "I can share with you that the allegations have to do with student eligibility and eligibility issues."

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