Suspension: Medicine Hat College Volleyball - Porter

2018-19 Season

March 4, 2019

MHC Men’s Volleyball Coach Mark Porter was ejected from a February 15, 2019 game against SAIT. As such, he was automatically suspended for one (1) game, which was served on February 16, 2019 vs. SAIT, as confirmed by my e‐mail of February 19, 2019.

This further ruling deals with the substantive aspects of Coach Porter’s behaviour toward the game officials, which was the cause of his ejection. Specifically, it is alleged by the second referee that Coach Porter made the following comment about the first referee while being directed to a chair (penalty area) following an expulsion: “I am going to fucking punch his lights out.”

In Coach Porter’s lengthy submission outlining the background to his remarks, he admits to using profanity during the incident in question but suggests that his comments were as follows: “As usual the referee has to be the centre of attention, star of the game and ruin a critical match; guy deserves to have his fucking lights punched out.”

Under the circumstances, given that he was not emotionally involved, I tend to favour the second referee’s recollection of the precise wording used although the wording recalled by Coach Porter is equally offensive.

Article I Section 3 of the ACAC Operating Code applies to this situation, which is worded as follows:

3. Guidelines for Coaches

3.1. Coaches have a responsibility to:

3.1.3. Consistently display high personal standards and project a favourable image of their sport and of coaching.

3.1.7. Treat opponents and officials with due respect both in victory and defeat and encourage student‐athletes to act accordingly. Actively encourage student‐athletes to uphold the rules of their sport and the spirit of such rules.

Clearly, Coach Porter’s behaviour represents a significant violation of Rule 3.1. In particular, while his language was clearly offensive, it is the threat of violence in his comments that is even more disturbing and which cannot be condoned by the Conference. While there is no evidence that Coach Porter intended to act on his comments, nonetheless, those comments must be sanctioned in order to reinforce the appropriate behaviour toward game officials that is to be expected of a team official within the ACAC.

Based on the above, Coach Porter is hereby suspended for an additional two (2) games, to be served during the first two (2) matches of the 2019‐20 ACAC regular season.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee 
ACAC Commissioner