Former Armstrong State University head coach Ted Evans said he was fired after the school conducted a three-week investigation that found he had created a discriminatory and hostile environment for gay student athletes.

Evans coached at ASU for 12 seasons and compiled a 413-213-1 record. He led the Lady Pirates to 11 NCAA Division II tournament appearances, and they most recently experienced their most successful season in program history, making it to the Division II College World Series and falling one win shy of the championship series.

Armstrong State released an official statement Wednesday about its decision to part ways with Evans.

"After careful consideration the Armstrong State University athletic department has decided to part ways with head coach Ted Evans and pursue new leadership for the Pirate softball program," athletic director Lisa Sweany said in the statement. "We thank coach Evans for his 12 years of service to the Pirates and look forward to building upon recent successes on the field."

The school declined to comment or confirm Evans' assertion he was fired for discriminating against gay players.

Shortly after leaving the CWS, held in Denver, Evans said he was placed on administrative leave and informed by Armstrong that the school would be conducting an investigation after it received complaints from players.

While Evans admitted he can sometimes be harsh with players, he told the Savannah Morning News he never acted that way because of a player's sexual orientation.

"Everyone is trying to figure out why I take a team to the world series, and then I get fired," Evans said. "I must have done something terribly wrong. I've been there 12 years, and there was nothing different here this year than any other year."

The only thing that was different, he said, was that from the beginning of the season his players struggled to bond as a team.

"The team didn't get along very well, which is a very important aspect in the softball world. I got a lot tougher with them about getting along. For a while, it went really well. It really kind of imploded at the world series."

Evans said he was interviewed by an investigator for "two to three hours" about certain instances that have happened over the years involving the alleged harsh treatment of gay players. One of them happened in Denver during one of ASU's three games against Humboldt State in the College World Series. With Humboldt State batting with a runner on second, a base hit came to an outfielder who Evans said is "openly gay." The coach said instead of the outfielder immediately throwing home after scooping up the ball, she looked to see whether the runner was heading home. That mistake caused a late throw, and a run scored, Evans said.

"Instead of firing it home like she was supposed to, she pauses and looks at the runner, then she throws it home, and then it was too late," he said. "I got on her case because she didn't do something she was supposed to do. I hold my kids accountable.

"She made a fabulous catch two innings later, and I gave her a big hug. She's one of my favorite kids on the team."

Evans said he has had "a lot" of gay players come through his program, and he has even hired assistant coaches who are gay.

"If I had a problem with them, I wouldn't have hired them," he said. "I've never had a problem with them. I don't care if you're gay. I just want you to be happy and have a great life. It's way above my pay grade to be judgmental. It's not part of who I am."

After being fired by Armstrong State, the 68-year-old coach said he isn't sure what he will do now.

"It's probably the end of my career," he said. "I don't have any plans at this point. I doubt there are too many people looking for a 68-year-old coach."

Evans and assistant coach Megen Conner were named the NFCA DII Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year after the Pirates finished the 2016 season 43-15.

Evans came to Savannah from Chattanooga (Tenn.) State Community College. Before becoming a collegiate softball coach, he played and coached men's competitive fastpitch softball for 17 years.

His first season at Armstrong State was among his most memorable, he said.

"We didn't have any players returning from the year before. There were 12 or 13 who were no longer on the team. We went 21-21 that year. Looking back on that, it was probably my best coaching year ever, just to make that team a .500 team."

Memories like that will be the hardest thing about leaving Armstrong, but he has to move on, he said.

"I'm not walking away with a lot of bitter feelings. In the last 48 hours, I've gotten 50 or 60 text messages from former players. It's been such a great experience for me to have worked with so many great kids. My life has been enhanced because of this job and who I've gotten to work with."