COACH DENOUNCED FOR CONTACT WITH REF
The president and founder of the National Association of Sports Officials strongly condemned a Pennsylvania high school boys basketball coach who made contact with an official, knocking him to the ground while protesting a controversial call late in a game.
Jerry Devine of Neshaminy (Langhorne, Pa.) was suspended indefinitely from his coaching duties and placed on administrative leave as as teacher Wednesday by the school district while it investigated the incident from Neshaminy’s 49-42 loss to Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.) on Tuesday.
A video of the incident shows Devine racing onto the court to protest a charging call in the final minute. He appears to chest bump the referee, and his head appears to follow through and also make contact, although another angle seems to indicate their heads did not collide.
“You don’t get to do that because you’re unhappy with calls in a game you are getting ready to lose,” Barry Mano of the officials association told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. “You don’t get to come out on the floor and charge an official. It’s not permitted.
“We’re not going to accept this behavior. That could have been the worst call in the world. I don’t care. That’s not the point. You don’t get to violate the private space of a referee and then turn around and blow him off by waving your arm. “How dare you?” Devine, who has been the school’s coach for 10 years and worked in the district for 15, has not commented on the incident.
In a statement, the Neshaminy School District said it was conducting a thorough review and further discipline was possible after the review was completed.
“The athletic program at Neshaminy places the values of fair play and sportsmanlike conduct above all,” the statement said. “We expect our coaches and staff to teach and uphold those principles while acting in a professional manner at all times.”
Middletown Township Police Chief Joe Bartorilla said the department had seen the video and was investigating. An official complaint had not been filed as of Wednesday, and the police were not called to the gym.
Devine was escorted out by security after he was ejected from the game.
“We will interview him and interview some of the witnesses that saw the incident firsthand and take the video and information, confer with the district attorney and decide if any charges will be filed,” Bartorilla said.
“The first thing we have to decide is whether a crime was committed. If we determine a crime was committed, what are the appropriate charge or charges?”
Under Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association rules, a coach who is ejected must serve a one-game suspension. Devine would have faced that penalty were he not placed on leave.
“The next steps will be taken by the school, which will determine any additional suspension for the coach,” Mark Byers, chief operating officer for the athletic association, told USA TODAY Sports.
“While we wouldn’t have to weigh in unless the school appeals the district committee’s decision, we believe it is appropriate to take additional action on top of the one-game (suspension) for the coach. But they will make that determination first.”
For Mano’s part, he said it didn’t matter whether there was a head-butt.
“I’ve seen the video. I don’t understand why there’s a debate about whether there was a headbutt,” Mano said.
“I don’t really care where he hit him, the head, the arm, the knee, the butt. Physical contact was made, and the coach was glad about it because he turned and blew him off with an arm wave.”