BIRMINGHAM, AL — In a unanimous vote of the Southeastern Conference’s athletic directors and with the full support of the conference’s twelve presidents and chancellors, all violations of SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 will be enforced by suspensions and fines, effective immediately.This is in response to coaches with multiple violations of the conference’s ban on coaches speaking out publicly about officiating.
Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen were both reprimanded by the SEC last weekend for comments about officiating. Kiffin, who has had multiple run-ins with the commissioner and at least one other reprimand, called into question the character of Commissioner Mike Slive and director of officiating Rogers Redding.
Future outbursts will result in fines or suspension. The length of the suspension and the amount of the fine will be at the discretion of the Commissioner.
SEC Bylaw 10.5.4 requires that coaches, assistant coaches, players, support personnel and others associated with the institution’s athletics program refrain from public criticism of officials.
Head coaches are advised that suspensions and fines for violations of Bylaw 10.5.4 made by assistant coaches or other support personnel will be enforced against the head coach.
“There are proper channels available for head coaches to use when communicating officiating concerns to the Conference office,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive.
As is customary practice, the conference office will continue to address reviews of officiating calls on specific plays with each institution’s head coach and no public comments will be made concerning these communications.