USF Investigating Associate HC Tom Herrion for Allegedly Making Racist Comments

The University of South Florida is investigating men's basketball associate head coach Tom Herrion after allegations he made racist comments on multiple occasions, according to Collin Sherwin of DraftKings.

Head coach Brian Gregory is also under investigation for allegedly failing to discipline Herrion. 

"We are aware of troubling concerns that have been reported involving a member of our men’s basketball coaching staff," the school said in a statement, via Jeff Goodman of Stadium. "We take these matters very seriously."

Per Goodman, the school said it is conducting an independent review and Herrion has been put on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

Herrion, who is white, has been on the USF staff since 2017 and was promoted to associate head coach in August.

He previously served as an assistant under Gregory for two years at Georgia Tech and then followed the coach to South Florida in 2017. In four years, the team has gone 57-66 with a 9-13 record in 2020-21.

The 53-year-old also spent eight total years as a Division I head coach with the College of Charleston and Marshall.

Seven South Florida players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the season, six of them Black, per Chris Torello of Spectrum Bay News 9. This includes senior David Collins, who was the only player to average double figures in scoring this past season.