UTSA suspends men's basketball coach after Corpus Christi DUI arrest

UTSA Athletics suspended men's basketball head coach Austin Claunch on Tuesday following his arrest for driving while intoxicated. Officers discovered Claunch passed out in his vehicle in a parking lot at a local gas station in Corpus Christi at 5 a.m. A police report noted that Claunch admitted to drinking and driving to the store. Although no conviction has been recorded, the university placed him on suspension immediately.

The arrest occurs amid a two-year tenure that has produced some of the lowest winning percentages in program history. In the 2024-25 season, the Runners finished 12-19. Last season, the team posted a 5-25 record. That mark included a 1-17 slate in conference play. A 14-game losing streak during that campaign set a new program record for the longest such run.

Claunch's overall win percentage stands at 28 percent. This figure trails the 43 percent winning rate achieved by his predecessor, Steve Henson, who coached the team for eight years. Henson compiled an 110-144 record during his time at the university. Claunch's contract guarantees him $400,000, with potential incentives that can push total compensation over $1 million.

Supporters and critics alike point to the team's depth and injury concerns as factors in the poor results. The roster struggled with execution, and players often prioritized individual plays over team structure. Despite having time to address these issues, the performance did not improve. Claunch's suspension marks the first formal step in the university's review process.

National data indicates that approximately 12,000 people die each year in alcohol-impaired crashes. Claunch's status as a university leader places the incident in a higher visibility category than a standard traffic stop. The suspension serves as a provisional measure while the case unfolds. UTSA has not yet announced a timeline for finding a permanent replacement.