Kansas State has suspended women’s soccer head coach Colleen Corbin for two weeks following the use of a racial slur — even though her use of the term was objecting to its use — The Mercury confirmed Tuesday. 

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Corbin had asked players not to play pregame music that included some swear words, including the N-word, before K-State’s exhibition versus Arkansas on March 7, in Kansas City. In a conversation about the music, she reportedly said the N-word, and players complained to the university.

Corbin later used the word again when relaying the situation during a staff meeting, which led assistant coach and goalkeepers coach Maddie Dobyns, who was hired by Corbin this past offseason, to resign from the team.

Following that incident, Corbin was suspended from the team for two weeks after a meeting with athletics director Gene Taylor on March 23. 

“Coach Colleen Corbin was suspended for two weeks following offensive lyrics played during warm-ups before a spring match,” the department said in a statement to The Mercury. “While addressing the issue, the coach inappropriately repeated the offensive lyrics. The incident was reported to the University’s Civil Rights and Title IX office, and K-State Athletics took action, issuing a suspension. Athletics takes these matters seriously and expects coaches and players to respect others.”

Taylor would not say whether the suspension was with or without pay.

Corbin is entering her second season as head coach of the Wildcat soccer team and is coming off what was perceived as a successful 2025 campaign. 

Last season, the Wildcats secured the first winning season in program history (7-6-5) and a record for points in the Big 12 standings (10). The Wildcats set 49 school records in the 2025 season, including: wins in a season (7), draws in a season (5) and winning percentage in a season (.528).

They also tied the school record for non-conference wins in a season (5; 2017 and 2021), set the record for winning percentage in non-conference play (.786), home wins in a season (4), tied record for road wins in a season (3) and secured the first .500 or better record in road matches (3-3-4).

The Wildcats are in the middle of their spring season and are scheduled for an exhibition with Creighton in Omaha on April 12.