The University of Iowa has been fined and basketball head coach Fran McCaffery ordered to serve a one-game suspension after the coach was ejected from the Iowa-Wisconsin game Sunday, January 5, 2014.
McCaffery appeared to be frustrated over a hand check foul called against Iowa forward Gabe Olaseni. McCaffery became verbally and physically demonstrative in the direction of one official and, in the process, appeared to bump into another official.
McCaffery was immediately ejected from the game.
In a statement issued the day after the game, McCaffery was apologetic, saying, “I want to apologize for my emotional reaction during Sunday night’s game at Wisconsin. I have great passion and respect for the game of basketball and everyone involved in it. I regret that my actions put our program and the University of Iowa in a negative light. I look forward to working with my staff and my players to move forward and compete for a championship.”
UI Athletics Director Gary Barta said he met with McCaffery about the incident, and that the university supports the Big Ten Conference’s sportsmanship policy.
“He knows he crossed a line of acceptable behavior and accepts responsibility for his actions,” Barta said. He also said he fully supports McCaffery as they move forward.
The Big Ten determined McCaffery’s actions toward the officials violated the conference’s policy that spells out sportsmanship expectations, including “civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”
McCaffery was expected to serve his one-game suspension on January 9, 2014 when the Hawkeyes face Northwestern.
The University has also been fined $10,000 as a result of the violation. A spokesman for the Iowa basketball program says the fine and suspension cannot be appealed.
Watch McCaffery’s remarks at the post-game news conference below.
