Suspension: GPRC and KC Basketball-Johnson and Coach Vigilance |
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Commissioner's Rulings
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2017-18 SeasonFebruary 15, 2018
Facts:KC has requested an investigation into the conduct of GPRC Men’s Basketball player Kenny Johnson (#24) in relation to a confrontation between Mr. Johnson and KC Women’s Basketball Coach Dwayne Vigilance, which took place during and after a February 10, 2018 Men’s Basketball game while Coach Vigilance was in the stands watching the game with his KC Women’s team. In response to KC’s request, GPRC responded with a description of the incident which suggested that Coach Vigilance acted inappropriately during the confrontation. Some of the details surrounding the incident remain in dispute. However, it appears clear that with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game, Mr. Johnson received a technical foul for flopping. Thinking that he was ejected from the game, Mr. Johnson walked off the court and removed his jersey. Upon realizing that he had not been ejected, Mr. Johnson returned to the court with his jersey still untucked. At that point, according to Sobhi Hamed, a spectator who provided KC with a statement, Coach Vigilance shouted to Mr. Johnson that he should “respect the game, tuck in his jersey and play the game.” Mr. Johnson then responded angrily. Shortly thereafter, in response to Mr. Johnson staring at Coach Vigilance after scoring points and making further comments towards him, Coach Vigilance pointed out that Mr. Johnson’s team was losing, which escalated the situation and resulted in allegedly more aggressive comments from Mr. Johnson, to which Coach Vigilance is reported to have responded that Mr. Johnson was “messing with the wrong man.” Coach Vigilance states than an unknown spectator appears to have set off the incident by yelling at Mr. Johnson to “stop acting like a baby.” Mr. Johnson, feeling that Coach Vigilance had made the comment, made threats toward Coach Vigilance. In response, Coach Vigilance replied that he had not said anything and told Mr. Johnson not to “disrespect the game, just play the game.” Following the conclusion of the game, Mr. Johnson remained visibly upset (as confirmed by video of the incident) and approached the stands while making comments toward Coach Vigilance. Words were exchanged by both men before Mr. Johnson’s teammates removed him from the situation. There is a dispute about the exact comments that were made by Mr. Johnson though KC suggests that Mr. Johnson’s words were profane and threatening while GPRC takes issue with that characterization. In addition, GPRC asserts that members of the KC Women’s Basketball team, who were sitting in the stands with Coach Vigilance, had, in fact, been heckling and taunting Mr. Johnson with comments of a personal nature throughout the weekend, including during the game in question. Ruling:The relevant portions of Article I Section 3 of the ACAC Operating Code are 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. 4. Guidelines for Student-Athletes 4.1. Student-athletes are expected to conform to a higher standard of behaviour by exhibiting the following qualities while involved in competitive situations. 4.1.1. Integrity - respect the rights of other athletes, coaches and the public. 4.1.3. Respect for the Rules - play fair and display respect for your sport. Under the circumstances, it is impossible to reconcile some of the differences between the respective versions of this event. However, what is clear is that an ongoing verbal exchange took place between Mr. Johnson and Coach Vigilance both during and after the game. In my opinion, the actions of each individual represent a violation of the ACAC ethics rules referenced above. In the case of Mr. Johnson, even if he felt provoked by comments made to him by either Coach Vigilance or by spectators, including members of the KC Women’s team, there is no excuse for engaging in a verbal exchange with spectators nor can such an aggressive response be condoned, regardless of the circumstances. In the case of Coach Vigilance, the evidence of Mr. Hamed suggests that Coach Vigilance was involved in a verbal give and take with Mr. Johnson during the game that served to escalate the actions of an already volatile and upset Mr. Johnson. However, even if Coach Vigilance’s version of how the events unfolded is accurate, it is still no excuse for engaging in any sort of verbal exchange with an athlete from another team. For good reason, ACAC coaches and officials are held to a higher standard given their positions of influence within the Conference, their institutions and their communities. I make no formal ruling at this time on the allegation that members of the KC Women’s team heckled and taunted Mr. Johnson. I do note, however, that such actions, if true, would constitute a violation of the ethics provisions on the part of both the athletes in question as well as coaches or team officials who may have condoned such actions by not taking an active role in putting a stop to such behavior. It is my ruling that the actions of Mr. Johnson and Coach Vigilance warrant discipline in the form of a suspension. Therefore, each is hereby suspended for one (1) game. In determining the length of Mr. Johnson’s suspension, I noted the allegations by KC that Mr. Johnson directed explicit threats toward Coach Vigilance and used extremely offensive language. However, I also took into account GPRC’s adamant denial that any threats were made and its further denial that Mr. Johnson made some of the most offensive remarks referred to in the KC complaint. The video of the incident has no sound and I am left unable to make a determination on that issue. I do note, however, that if I was able to conclude that Mr. Johnson made the comments alleged by KC that his sanction would have been more severe. The one (1) game suspensions referred to above are to be served as follows: Kenny Johnson: February 16, 2018 vs. NAIT Coach Dwayne Vigilance: February 23, 2018 vs. TKU Sincerely, Bill Hendsbee
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