Georgia coach Dan Jones has apologised for a tweet he wrote last month that referred to girls soccer teams in Tulsa and Charlotte as “n****rs.”
The coach, who won the men’s soccer championship at the U.S. Open this month, told ABC News on Monday he didn’t mean to offend anyone and was simply trying to make a point about the importance of sportsmanship and respect.
Jones, who was hired as coach of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in late November, also tweeted on Saturday, “@charlotte_soccer: I think they are great and I hope you don’t mind the n*****.”
Jones posted the tweet on Sunday, one day after the Golden Hurricane defeated the Charlotte Independence 3-1.
“This is my opinion and not a statement,” Jones said.
“I was talking about the fact that girls in my sport are very special and should be respected, not discriminated against.
That is not what I meant.”
Jones apologized on Monday, tweeting: “I know I am not a perfect person.
I know there is a lot I could have done better.”
Jones said he has received more than 100 emails and messages from people who supported his statement.
He said he does not plan on changing his opinions about girls soccer.
“I am going to do what I think is best for the players and for the coaches,” Jones told ABCNews.com.
“As long as I’m doing what is best, I don’t think anything will change.
I have been coaching girls soccer for almost a decade.
I don,t think anything has changed.”
Jones is a three-time national coach of girls soccer in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and his players have won national titles in the past.
The Golden Hurricane won the U-19 U-18 championship in November and finished third in the state championship.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricanes are currently in the second year of their inaugural season under Jones, who took over as head coach last March.
He has won the state title four times and was named the tournament coach of year three times.
