Seattle University Basketball coach Jim Hayford was suspended and placed on administrative leave after a player heard the coach use the N-word twice. 

According to the Stadium, Hayford used the racial slur during the Thursday scrimmage on Nov. 4. Reportedly, the racial slur uttered by Hayford wasn’t his first time using the derogatory remark. 

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One player said Hayford used the N-word during the summer. 

During the scrimmage, Hayford repeated the word after a Black player said the N-word and it was heard by a referee. 

“Did you say the N-word?” Hayford asked the player during the game. 

Hayford issued an apology to the team on Friday, but the damage was already done. A majority of the team refused to play for him after Hayford used the N-word. 

“Most of the players don’t like him, so this was almost the final straw,” one source close to the program told Stadium. “He’s very emotional, flammable. It can be a hostile environment.” 

Hayford has been the head coach for Seattle U for four seasons and has a 64-55 overall record. Associate head coach Chris Victor will assume head coaching duties while the internal investigation into Hayford takes place. 

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He is in his fifth year with the program.