UTSA decided to suspend Austin Claunch as the men’s basketball coach after he was arrested on suspicion of DWI. The length of his suspension has yet to be determined with just four days until the first game of the 2026-27 season.
An official timeline of his arrest and subsequent operations is rather unusual.
The university apparently tried to hide its college basketball scandal as long as it could. He spent a full day in jail!!
Austin Claunch will be suspended by UTSA.
The University of Texas at San Antonio announced its decision to suspend Austin Claunch on Wednesday. Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos released the following statement:
“UTSA Athletics holds its coaches, staff and student-athletes to high standards of conduct and accountability. We take this matter seriously and will address it in accordance with university policies and procedures.”
Claunch also issued the follwing statement of apology:
“I made a grave error in judgment, and I deeply regret my actions and the disappointment I have caused. I sincerely apologize to the young men I have the privilege of coaching, my fellow coaches and colleagues, President Eighmy, Dr. Lisa Campos and the entire Roadrunner community.
“I recognize the responsibility that comes with being a head coach and the example I am expected to set, both on and off the court. I fell short of those expectations, and for that, I am truly sorry. I take full responsibility for my decisions and am committed to learning from this experience and earning back the trust and confidence of those who have placed their faith in me.”
UTSA will play its first game of the college basketball season on Wednesday at San Jose State. It will return home to play VMI next Saturday. Assistant coach Nick Bowman will serve as the acting head coach in Claunch’s absence. The administration has not yet decided on the length of his suspension.
The college basketball coach spent a full day in jail.
This is where things get interesting. Austin Claunch was detained in the Nueces County Jail for more than 13 hours on Tuesday. The school covered for him while he sat behind bars.
The head basketball coach was supposed to speak to the media on Tuesday. His press conference was originally scheduled for 10:00 a.m. It was moved, on Monday, to 1:00 p.m. The start time change had nothing to do with the arrest.
And then Claunch was arrested on suspicion of DWI. He was booked into jail at 6:00 a.m.
Not too long thereafter, on Tuesday morning, UTSA canceled the previously-scheduled (and moved) press conference. It cited a “scheduling conflict.” It did not say that Claunch was arrested. No further information was provided.
Claunch was released from jail at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday. He was allowed to run his team through a full practice on Wednesday morning. He also spoke with members of the media for more than 10 minutes after practice.
It was not until Wednesday afternoon that the university sent its press release regarding Claunch’s arrest and his suspension. The timeline of events is rather unusual. UTSA waited more than 36 hours after the arrest to go public with what happened. It also lied to the media about a nonexistent scheduling conflict.