Suspension: UofA-Augustana Basketball-Coach Drabiuk et al |
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Commissioner's Rulings
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2018-19 SeasonNovember 9, 2018Facts:Following the conclusion of a November 3, 2018 game against GPRC, UAA Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Dave Drabiuk, Assistant Coach, Chad Bowie and UAA student-athlete Austin Brulotte (#11) were involved in an incident with game officials. According to the game officials, following the conclusion of a hard fought game won 75-73 by GPRC, Mr. Brulotte walked onto the court, gestured disrespectfully and made unacceptable comments towards the game officials. Game officials have also indicated that Coach Bowie acted inappropriately, standing up at the end of regulation and gesturing dismissively toward and berating the game officials, who were standing at centre court. Their suggestion is that Coach Bowie’s demeanor was overtly aggressive toward them. Game officials are not able to provide details regarding the particulars of the comments alleged to have been made by either Coach Bowie or Mr. Brulotte. Finally, the most serious allegations arising from this incident relate to Coach Drabiuk. According to the game officials, following the final buzzer Coach Drabiuk first walked behind the UAA bench, picked up a chair and threw it. He then approached the referee at centre court and started to shake hands as per the post-game handshake protocol. During this exchange, Coach Drabiuk made several unacceptable comments and refused to release the referee’s hand when requested to do so, which was done deliberately to allow Coach Drabiuk more time to question the referee. The referee states that he was attempting to move away from Coach Drabiuk, who continued to refuse to release his hand. During this interaction, the referee states that he asked Coach Drabiuk to control Coach Bowie, to which Coach Drabiuk replied that he would not control Coach Bowie as everything Coach Bowie was saying was completely accurate. The referee says that after asking again a couple of more times and then threatening to eject him from the gym, Coach Drabiuk finally released his hand. UAA has responded to these allegations with detailed written responses from both Coach Drabiuk and Coach Bowie. Coach Bowie vigorously denies the bulk of the allegations made by the game officials although he concedes that he did make a “dismissive wave” in the direction of the game officials. He otherwise denies that he acted in any way disrespectfully or aggressively toward the game officials, indicating that he did not go near them nor did he speak with them at any time. With the exception of Coach Drabiuk’s comments on the quality of officiating during the game in question, which are extraneous to this ruling, his account of the incident does not differ greatly from that of the game officials. According to Coach Drabiuk, he approached the “visibly upset” referee and took his hand, at which point the referee screamed at him that he needed to get Coach Bowie under control. Coach Drabiuk then maintained his grip on the referee’s hand and asked him to repeat what he had said, at which point the referee again made a derisive comment about Coach Bowie. Coach Drabiuk says that he then held his grip on the referee’s hand and reminded him that he needed to calm down and that he would not admonish his Assistant Coach as he had done nothing out of the ordinary. Coach Drabiuk says that the referee then threatened him and insisted that Coach Drabiuk release his hand. Coach Drabiuk says he then asked the referee if he intended to speak to him as a professional, which the referee declined, indicating that if Coach Drabiuk did not let go of his hand he would be ejected from the gym, at which point Coach Drabiuk says he finally released his grip on the referee’s hand. I have had the opportunity to review video footage of the incident. Unfortunately, there was no audio feed but the footage was clear enough for me to form some overall impressions, which will be discussed below. Ruling:The relevant portions of the ACAC Operating Code are detailed below. Article I Section 3 Rule 3.1 of the ACAC Operating Code states as follows: 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. Article I Section 3 Rule 4.1 of the ACAC Operating Code states as follows: 4.1. Student-athletes are expected to conform to a higher standard of behaviour by exhibiting the following qualities while involved in competitive situations. 4.1.4. Respect for Officials - exhibit respect for referees’ and officials’ judgements and decisions. Assistant Coach Chad Bowie and Austin Brulotte Coach Bowie’s “dismissive wave” in the direction of the game officials is confirmed on video and it appears that at least one of the officials was facing in Coach Bowie’s direction at the time the gesture was made. However, I am unable to determine from the video footage whether Coach Bowie said anything to game officials although I have made the observation that his body language did not in any way appear threatening or aggressive. Under the circumstances, I do not feel that supplementary discipline is warranted although I would like to take this opportunity to remind Coach Bowie of his obligations at all times under Rule 3.1 regardless of whether those interactions take place following an emotionally draining game. Similarly, I am electing not to impose supplemental discipline on Mr. Brulotte. It is clear from the video footage that Mr. Brulotte made a gesture in the direction of the referee and appears to have made comments in the referee’s direction following the gesture. Those comments were inaudible and the game officials have been unable to provide me with details of what was alleged to have been said by Mr. Brulotte. Although I am choosing not to sanction Mr. Brulotte, he should consider this a clear warning that further conduct of this manner will not be tolerated and will attract supplemental discipline Coach Dave Drabiuk Based on my review of the evidence, it is my opinion that the behavior exhibited by Coach Drabiuk falls short of the standard expected of ACAC team officials. Frustration with the quality of officiating during the match cannot be used as an excuse for failing to comply with Rules 3.1.3 and 3.1.7. As stated above, the basic facts between the version of events provided by both the game officials and Coach Drabiuk are very similar and are corroborated by the video footage. I am unable to determine the details of the comments made by Coach Drabiuk toward the referee and there is a distinct difference between what the referee characterizes as inappropriate and Coach Drabiuk’s assertion of how events took place. What is apparent from both the written submissions and the video footage is that Coach Drabiuk acted inappropriately in refusing to let go of the referee’s hand for an inordinate period of time despite repeated requests by the referee that he do so. The ACAC is committed to involving game officials in the handshake protocol despite the ongoing concerns of the Alberta Basketball Officials Association that the handshake protocol might be used by coaches to continue to question in-game calls made by game officials long after the final buzzer has sounded. The actions of Coach Drabiuk represent the manifestation of those concerns. Although Coach Drabiuk has no significant discipline history, his actions in this case represent an attempt to assert control over the referee at a time where he should have acted in a more graceful and sportsmanlike manner. It is also noteworthy that Coach Drabiuk concedes that he responded to the referee that he would not admonish Coach Bowie, whom, he states, was “right in every regard about the job [the referee] and his crew had done.” Notwithstanding Coach Drabiuk’s response to the referee, it is clear that he bears the responsibility, as Head Coach, of controlling the actions of his athletes and staff. In addition to his interactions with the referee, the video footage clearly shows Coach Drabiuk pick up a chair and forcefully propel it into the gym floor. Although the chair was not thrown, as suggested by the game officials, this behaviour on Coach Drabiuk’s part cannot be condoned. Coach Drabiuk’s actions violate of Rule 3.1 and clearly fall short of the example that ACAC coaches should be setting for our athletes. Based on the totality of Coach Drabiuk’s actions, a suspension is warranted to reinforce the standard expected of ACAC team officials. Accordingly, Coach Drabiuk is hereby suspended for two (2) games, to be served as follows:
Sincerely, Bill Hendsbee |
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