Mike Jeffcoat, the coach of Texas Wesleyan’s baseball team, has been fired over comments he made about Colorado recruits, the university announced Thursday.

Texas Wesleyan President Frederick Slabach announced Jeffcoat’s firing at a news conference Thursday.

“Mike Jeffcoat is no longer an employee of Texas Wesleyan University,” Slabach said. “He was separated from the university due to the discriminatory remarks contained in the email to a potential recruit from the state of Colorado, and for another factor that we have been investigating for the past week.”

Slabach said the additional factor was an NAIA rules violation regarding player eligibility. He said the university self-reported the violation.

Jeffcoat made the discriminatory comments in an email to Cherokee Trail High School’s Gavin Bell.

“Thanks for the interest in our program,” Jeffcoat wrote. “Unfortunately, we are not recruiting players from the state of Colorado. In the past, players have had trouble passing our drug test. We have made a decision to not take a chance on Student-athletes from your state. You can thank your liberal politicians. Best of Luck wherever you decide to play.”

Slabach also addressed Bell directly during the news conference.

“If that young man or his family is watching today, I want to make sure he knows the comments contained in that email absolutely do not express the values of this university,” Slabach said, “and we would love to have Gavin here as a student.”

Slabach said: “We value inclusiveness. We value education, critical thinking and supporting student athletes who are here for the love of the game.”