[1] After playing basketball at South Plains College, Adams transferred to Texas Tech, where he served as a student assistant to head coach Gerald Myers.

[2][4] Adams would move on to become the head coach at West Texas A&M where he'd guide the Buffaloes to two NCAA Division II tournament appearances and compile an overall record of 108–40.

Adams would follow Beard back to Texas Tech as an assistant coach, and has been part of three NCAA tournament squads including national runner-up in 2019.

[7][8] Adams led Texas Tech to a 27–10 record and the NCAA tournament in his first season at the helm, reaching the Sweet Sixteen where they lost to Duke.

On March 5, 2023, Adams was suspended by the university over an alleged "inappropriate, unacceptable, and racially insensitive comment" that he had made to a player the previous week.

In an attempt to make the player more receptive to his coaching, Adams "referenced Bible verses about workers, teachers, parents, and slaves serving their masters.