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 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

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.

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 offi ciating, announced his retirement from the league’s front offi ce Aug. 5. The 61-yearold Riveron, a Cuban-American who became the NFL’s fi rst Hispanic referee, was an onfi eld offi cial from 2004-12. In 2013, he joined the league offi ce as a senior director of offi ciating. 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 Offi ciating Walt Anderson and Senior Vice President of Offi ciating Administration Perry Fewell will take over leadership of the offi ciating department. Anderson was an NFL offi cial 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 Offi cials 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 offi ciating program and HB91 would destroy this relationship (with offi cials),” the group said in a statement signed by 114 basketball offi cials. “It would have a signifi cantly detrimental effect on the retention of current offi cials and attracting the next

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Pappas Joins NFHS, Wynns Retires

INDIANAPOLIS — Dana Pappas, a longtime deputy director and commissioner of officials for the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), joined the NFHS staff Aug. 1 as director of officiating services — a newly created position devoted to officials programming, services and courses. Pappas said she is excited to build on the work of others.

“It is the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to work in this role and to take the passion and commitment I have for officials to a new level,” Pappas said. “I look forward to being a part of the NFHS family and serving the state associations in a new and special way. To be on the NFHS staff and to have the opportunity to build on the foundation established by Theresia Wynns is an honor. It is absolutely thrilling to be able to serve as an advocate for officials nationwide and to expand on the training and educational offerings for officials for all 51 state high school associations.”

Wynns, who has served as NFHS director of sports and officials education since 2012, retired July 31 after a 50-year career in education at the local, state and national levels. In addition to directing the NFHS

Officials Association and the Officials Education Program, Wynns has been national rules editor for basketball throughout her tenure and served the sports of softball and soccer as well. “This role has given me the opportunity to be a servant leader,” Wynns said. “It provided the opportunity to advocate for services for development of officials as services Pappas were provided for me as I came through the ranks. … I hope I have served the officials well who have taken advantage of our services.” Before joining the NFHS staff, Wynns had a 41-year career in education in the state of Indiana as a teacher, coach, dean, assistant principal, principal and assistant commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association. She was also a sports official for 19 years, working basketball, swimming, volleyball, and track and field. Pappas worked directly with the New Mexico Officials Association (NMOA) during her 24-year career with the NMAA. As commissioner of officials for the NMAA since 2004, Pappas oversaw the training and education programs for more than 1,700 officials in 10 sports. She also oversaw the assignment of officials for postseason contests. In addition, Pappas coordinated the NMOA state clinic each summer.

SOURCE: NFHS

THE WIRE

NASO Presents 2020-21 Awards at Summit

NASO presented its 202021 awards during the Sports Officiating Summit @ Home held virtually Aug. 3-5.

The Gold Whistle Award, officiating’s highest honor, was presented to UMPS CARE, an organization that provides financial, in-kind and emotional support for America’s youth and families in need.

The first Inspire Award was presented to former NFL referee Jerry Markbreit, who continues to serve as a trainer focusing on officials in the Big Ten, MidAmerican and Missouri Valley conferences.

The Mel Nerol Medallion, which recognizes contributions to NASO, was presented to Steve Shaw, College Football Officiating national coordinator of officials and NCAA football secretary-rules editor. Shaw served on NASO’s board of directors from 2009-13.

The awards were originally scheduled to be presented at the in-person Summit in 2020 in Montgomery, Ala. That in-person Summit was canceled due to the pandemic. Further, the 2021 Summit in Grand Rapids, Mich., also was canceled and shifted to a virtual event.

generation of referees so badly needed in all sports.”

The basketball group joins the NFHS, N.C. Coaches Association, N.C. Athletic Directors Association and a number of sport-specific coaching organizations voicing support for the NCHSAA.

Olympic Coach Expelled for Assaulting Referee

A Belarusian member of India’s wrestling coaching staff was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics for assaulting a referee, the Indian Olympic Association said on Aug. 6. Assistant coach Murad Gaidarov, a former Olympic silver medalist, was sent home after he assaulted a referee following the 86kg freestyle bronze-medal bout that Indian wrestler Deepak Punia had lost. The name of the referee and whether the referee was injured were not disclosed.

MAAC Names Men’s Basketball Coordinator

The Metro Atlantic Athletic and America East conferences announced on July 19 they would be joining the Men’s Basketball Officiating Alliance and hiring Michael Stephens as the coordinator of men’s basketball officials. Stephens is a four-time national championship official who additionally officiated three Final Four games between 20112019. The Alliance, founded by the Atlantic Coast and Big East conferences, is a collaboration of several conferences on the East Coast for development and training of officials. Other conferences in the alliance include the Atlantic 10, Colonial Athletic, Big South, Ivy League, Patriot League, Northeast and Mid-Eastern Athletic conferences.

SOURCES: STATEHIGHSCHOOLOT.COM, AMERICAN EAST, THE (N.J.) TRENTONIAN, MID-DAY.COM, ESPN.

Coach Suspended continued from p.8 matters. Fisher escorted McClellan through the door so he could leave the room while Senk continued to try to get to McClellan while being restrained by three coaches.

“I said, ‘You’re done. We’re not doing this,’” Fisher told Referee.

Fisher, who umpired for seven years in professional baseball and 10 years in college baseball, said he acted on his umpire instincts in ejecting Senk. “It’s the umpire kicking in,” he said. “Initially, I treated this as an onfield situation. But it wasn’t. I was in my church clothes coming out of (Sunday) Mass.”

It was at that point that events took a turn. Fisher told police Senk “put me in a stranglehold with both arms around my throat when pinning me against the glass doors” and hit him in the ribs and face, according to the police report. Coaches got in between and Fisher was able to exit the building. He did not require medical attention and did not wish to prosecute, according to the police report.

Fisher told Referee he was hit three times in his ribs on his right side and once in the face.

The incident was viewed by NJIT players on the other side of the glass windows in the sports complex, Fisher said.

Spectator video of the incident aftermath was shared with Referee. While it starts after the alleged attack, it shows two people struggling to restrain Senk, who nearly knocks over a table holding a laptop computer. Fisher is seen picking up a red hat and placing it on the table and exiting a door to the outside.

“Officers spoke with Matthew Senk, who, in retrospect, though very remorseful and saddened as a result of his players not being able to complete a very trying and difficult season, did corroborate details given to officers by complainant, William Fisher,” the police report stated.

Fisher said he was only going to file an NCAA ejection report, but at the urging of a crew member who was retired from law enforcement, filed a police report to ensure there was a proper record of what transpired to support any actions the school or conference would take and prevent his being subject to claims of having contributed to or being a cause for Senk’s actions.

Fisher said he did not press charges because he wasn’t hurt and there were no damages, and New York doesn’t have any laws related to the assault of a sports official that might treat what occurred more seriously. “There’s nothing to press,” he said, noting what occurred is classified as a violation.

Fisher consulted with several attorneys in the two months since the incident and was told there wasn’t anything to pursue due to the absence of damages.

Senk, who led Stony Brook to the College World Series in 2012, did not respond to several emails seeking comment. The suspension means he will miss early season games, which are typically non-conference games.

Fisher said the incident with Senk and the environment it created prompted Chad Dwyer, America East senior associate commissioner, to end the tournament.

Conference statements only referenced inclement weather as the factor in the decision.

“With the NCAA deadline for completing conference baseball championships set at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 30, and due to the poor weather forecast for the remainder of the day as well as the host facility not having lights, conference officials determined the championship could not be completed,” the conference said on its website on May 30.

Under conference rules for an incomplete championship, as the lone unbeaten team in the tournament, NJIT was crowned the winner and received the automatic NCAA bid.

On May 30, Heilbron took to social media to express disappointment in the tournament’s ending, but gave no indication the school’s coach played a role: “After everything our athletes have been through this year, this outcome is devastating. Championships should be won on the field, and our team deserved that opportunity. The emotions are extremely raw. So many moments have been taken this year. This didn’t need to be one.”

As for Fisher’s thoughts on the nine-game suspension, he said: “It’s like being a police officer; you just enforce the law. And whatever happens of it, that’s on America East and Stony Brook. I can’t control that, so it doesn’t affect me one way or the other.”

What bothers Fisher is the lack of leadership demonstrated by Stony Brook President Maurie McInnis and then-American East Conference Commissioner Amy Huchthausen, who left just days before the suspension was announced to

become chief impact and culture officer at a FinTech startup in Boston.

“They can choose to do whatever they want to do, but they basically evaded the situation. Both Stony Brook and the America East purport to ascribe to lofty ideals, yet the minute the university and conference were presented with a real, tangible incident, the president and commissioner were nowhere to be found,” Fisher said.

Referee requested information about the nature of the conference’s “public reprimand” — and if that reprimand was something beyond the four-sentence conference statement about the incident — but did not get a response from the conference.

United Collegiate Umpires, which handles assigning for the America East through coordinator Chris Marshall, declined to comment for this story.

“They can choose to do whatever they want to do, but they basically evaded the situation.”