Sports

Providence Basketball Coach Lands Fat Fine For Berating Ref After Big East’s Leniency With Dan Hurley

#College Basketball
by

Providence basketball coach Kim English speaks to a referee.

© Eric Canha-Imagn Images


Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Providence basketball coach Kim English was ejected after landing two technical fouls last week during a game vs. Big East rival Xavier. He’s since received a fine from the league office.

English was fined $5,000 for his “derogatory comments” towards an official on the floor. The conference released a statement on his punishment Tuesday.

English’s rage was directed at official Brent Hampton. He appeared to call the referee a “crazy son of a b—-” after getting tossed.

The head coach was upset on a pair of instances in which he believes calls were missed. English insists he remained calm during both interactions. When he was thrown out, frustrations boiled over.

In a press conference after the fact, Kim English replayed the situation for listeners. He doesn’t believe he was at fault. “I’d like to know what warranted two technical fouls for those comments,” he said. “I’d really like to know.”

Things have only gotten worse in the days following the ejection. Not only was he forced to miss the remainder of that contest, but his wallet has taken a hit, too.

English isn’t the first Big East coach to get into with officials this season. UConn’s Dan Hurley was seen erupting on officials during a non-conference tournament earlier this year.

He was neither fined nor suspended for telling a referee he was a joke in an expletive-laced rant. His hatred towards officiating crews has continued as the season’s progressed.

A Big East official, who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the subject, told NJ Advance Media that Hurley wasn’t fined, adding that it’s rare for a fine or suspension to be levied for a non-league game.

Hurley likely escaped discipline because he didn’t specifically mention the officials by name or impugn their integrity, another league official said.

-NJ.com

Maybe that leniency was given due to technicality. Dan Hurley’s explosion came in a non-conference tournament. Kim English’s tirade was in league play.

Still, one could argue that Hurley’s reaction(s) was much more aggressive than English’s. It will be interesting to see if Providence reaches out to the league office for further clarification.