MAC scolds Dakich

12/13/2003

BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green State University basketball coach Dan Dakich received a public reprimand from the Mid-American Conference yesterday for his negative comments Wednesday about officiating after his team s loss at Indiana/Purdue-Fort Wayne.

“I am extremely disappointed in the irresponsibility of Dan s remarks, both as it relates to the officials as well as to others who serve college basketball in an administrative capacity,” said MAC commissioner Rick Chryst. “In my view, his statements dishonor himself, his institution and his profession.”

MAC policies prohibit school personnel from making public comments unduly critical of any game officials or other administrative personnel. No specific penalty is spelled out.

Dakich will not be suspended for his actions during or after the Falcons 81-75 loss to the Mastodons. Yesterday the seventh-year coach apologized for his comments at the start of his weekly press conference.

“I need to apologize for my comments after the game [Wednesday night],” Dakich said. “I don t think I represented myself very well. [Commenting on officials] certainly is not something I think should be done. I ve already apologized to Eric Harmon. Eric, who has been a friend of mine and whom I still consider to be a close friend, had nothing to do with that situation.”

Harmon is the MAC s supervisor of officials.

Dakich declined further comment, focusing instead on his team s game today at Michigan.

“I am accepting of coach Dakich s public apology today, and believe it to be genuine,” Chryst said. “Further, I am satisfied that there has been sufficient institutional action taken on the part of Bowling Green relative to this conduct, that is both substantive in character and meaningful in consequence.”

BG athletic director Paul Krebs said he would not go into specifics regarding what actions the school had taken.

“Suffice it to say we have talked, and I wouldn t wish to reveal anything beyond that,” Krebs said.

Among the comments Dakich made following his team s 81-75 loss was that Harmon should be fired after the way referees Sid Rodeheffer, Steve Skiles and Chris Beaver officiated.

But Harmon did not assign the officials for the game. They were chosen by John Adams, who assigns referees for all IP-FW men s basketball games. Yesterday Harmon said he considers the incident closed.

“I m satisfied,” Harmon said. “My feeling is that if the situation isn t about you, you need to stay out of the way.”

Adams said yesterday that he had not received a written report from the officials but had spoken with them and said the verbal report focused more on Dakich s actions during the game. Adams said that managing bench decorum - the way coaches and players act on the team bench - has been cited by the NCAA as a “point of emphasis” for basketball officials this season.

“I have been charged as a coordinator of officials to make sure that game officials manage bench decorum,” Adams said. “If officials don t do that they probably won t work games in the NCAA Tournament, and working tournament games is the goal of every referee.”

Dakich received a pair of technicals in the contest, the last coming in the game s final seconds and resulting in his ejection. He has received four technical fouls in six games this season. The Falcons are 2-4.