Wake Forest baseball coach Tom Walter apologized Tuesday morning after he appeared to utter a homophobic slur while in the dugout during his team’s loss to Tennessee on Monday night.
As the broadcast had a camera on him in the bottom of the fourth inning, Walter was clearly frustrated as his team trailed by four runs. You can attempt to make out what he said below.
Hey @WakeBaseball… why is your coach dropping homophobic slurs???????
Nice job, Tom Walter. #NCAABaseball | #RoadToOmaha | @NCAABaseballpic.twitter.com/fi4ANP3QDm
— Depressed New York Fan (@JudgeEnjoyer) June 2, 2025
“I am very sorry for my outburst in frustration last night and I recognize the hurt and disappointment it has caused,” Walter said in a statement released by the school. “I have seen the videos and while I do not remember the specific moment clearly, that language doesn’t reflect my values or the standards of this program. Regardless, I own the consequences and I apologize to the University of Tennessee, to Wake Forest University and the SEC and ACC.”
Tennessee beat Wake Forest 11-5 to advance to the Super Regionals. Monday night’s game was a winner-take-all affair in the Knoxville Regional.
“I am both surprised and deeply disappointed in our head baseball coach Tom Walter for his outburst during last night’s baseball game,” Wake Forest athletic director John Currie said in a statement. “I feel badly for those most hurt by such words. I spoke with Coach Walter immediately after the game and again this morning to address this incident, which is completely out of character for him and does not meet the standards of Wake Forest Athletics, Wake Forest University or the Atlantic Coast Conference.”
The loss dropped the Demon Deacons to 39-22 on the year. Wake Forest made the NCAA tournament after going 16-14 in conference play during Walter’s 16th season as the team’s head coach. He was the 2023 ACC coach of the year and is the second-winningest coach in school history.
