THE NEWS D-I Coach Suspended in Umpire Attack STONY BROOK, N.Y. — The head coach of Stony Brook University’s baseball team received a nine-game suspension for an “incident” at the America East Conference tournament on May 30 that neither the conference nor the school detailed in their statements, but what police reports indicate involved a physical attack of an umpire. “The America East Conference announced today the suspension of Matt Senk, head baseball coach at Stony Brook University, for the institution’s first nine games of the 2022 baseball season,” the conference said in an Aug. 4 statement. “Additionally, Coach Senk was issued a public reprimand. This disciplinary action is in response to an incident that occurred during the 2021 season in which Coach Senk acted contrary to NCAA Baseball Rules and America East Conference Bylaws governing conduct. The Conference will have no further comment on the matter.” Referee contacted Stony Brook Director of Athletics Shawn Heilbron seeking information. “We are aware of the incident that occurred during the weekend of the America East baseball tournament,” Heilbron said in an email. “The matter has been reviewed in accordance with our policies and procedures. Our coaches and administrators are held to the highest standards on and off the field. The University does not comment on
Video from the aftermath of a May 30 incident where an umpire was attacked shows coaches attempting to restrain Stony Brook University baseball coach Matt Senk (center). The incident occurred at the Stony Brook Indoor Sports Complex during a meeting to discuss weather conditions.
individual personnel matters.” Details of what the school and conference would only call an “incident” can be gleaned from a police report from the Stony Brook University Police. Officers responded to the Stony Brook University Indoor Sports Complex at approximately 12:15 p.m. on May 30 in response to an altercation. They spoke to William
Fisher, who was identified as the “presiding referee crew chief” for an America East tournament game between Stony Brook and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The game was originally started the prior day, on May 29, but suspended due to weather. NJIT led, 2-1. Because of an earlier loss in the tournament, Stony Brook would have needed to win that suspended game and one additional game to win the tournament and earn the automatic bid into the NCAA postseason — and the tournament needed to be completed May 30 to meet an NCAA deadline. A meeting was held at 10 a.m. to discuss weather conditions. In an interview, Fisher told Referee he attended the meeting because the umpire in chief (UIC) is part of the tournament committee. Fisher told police that during the meeting there was a “level of contentiousness” between Senk and NJIT coach Robbie McClellan. Senk “became belligerent while aggressively walking toward McClellan” and coaches had to step in and separate the two, according to police reports. Due to Senk’s behavior, Fisher “disqualified him from playing a part in the possibility of a game and any discussion involved around getting a game in,” police reports stated. Fisher told Referee McClellan did not respond to Senk or escalate See “Coach Suspended” p.11
THE WIRE Al Riveron Announces Retirement From NFL
Al Riveron, who succeeded Dean Blandino as the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating, announced his retirement from the league’s front office Aug. 5. The 61-yearold Riveron, a Cuban-American who became the NFL’s first Hispanic referee, was an onfield official from 2004-12. In 2013, he joined the league office as a senior director of
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officiating. He ascended to the senior vice president’s role in 2017, succeeding Blandino. When the league restructured the department last season, Riveron’s duties were limited to overseeing the replay department. Senior Vice President of Officiating Walt Anderson and Senior Vice President of Officiating Administration Perry Fewell will take over leadership of the officiating department. Anderson
was an NFL official from 19952019, moving from line judge to referee in 2003. Fewell is a former assistant coach in the NFL who twice served as an interim head coach.
N.C. Officiating Group Comments on Legislation The Triangle Basketball Officials Association in central North Carolina added its voice to growing objections to state legislation that would dissolve
the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) and replace it with a group appointed by elected leaders. “The NCHSAA has expertly managed the officiating program and HB91 would destroy this relationship (with officials),” the group said in a statement signed by 114 basketball officials. “It would have a significantly detrimental effect on the retention of current officials and attracting the next
