Princeton Coach finds himself in the penalty box

Princeton’s head coach Chris Bates has been placed on administrative leave, as per a statement from the university, after he made contact with a Penn player running off the field. The incident occurred after a faceoff in the third quarter with Brown leading 7-6, just a few yards outside the substitution zone where Bates stood on the field as the Brown midfielder took a straight line toward the box from his previous position. Offensive Coordinator Matt Madalon will serve as the interim for Bates, who has been placed on administrative leave until the situation is investigated into further.

Many are outraged in the lacrosse community, as the video and story has gone somewhat viral in the sports world.  There have been suggestions that the player was intentionally running at the coach, but anyone who watched the incident and knows lacrosse understands he was likely just running to the closest point of the box in order for his teammate to substitute quicker.

But lets back it up a second, the Brown coach appears to be a good few yards on the field, which is not uncommon for a head coach, especially during intense moments when they need to communicate with their players.

Now, I don’t sit on the board of reviewers but I am a high school boy’s lacrosse official- and of course I have my opinions. The coach was not yelling to his players but appears to be trying to speak with the trail referee, as a flag is being thrown for a previous collision between players. Unfortunately he is out of the screen during the video replay so it could be inferred that he was not in a position to see the incident. Many who know Bates know that his passion for the game while representing strength and calmness.

The first problem is that many coaches enter the field of play several times during a game, and some coaches are even infamous for it. It is the duty of the official to keep the sidelines clear for substitutions and to keep the coaches in their designated coaching areas, although as mentioned earlier, some coaches extend themselves onto the field and officials, well, sometimes miss a call.

The second problem is that the trail official, whose obligation it is to watch the substitution area when the ball is advancing up the field, did not see the collision take place. Therefore no action was taken and the coach remained in the game with no repercussions. That fact muddles up the situation for Princeton, who now has to find the suitable punishment for the coach’s momentary lapse of judgement.

It is not like it was a Woody Hayes moment of the late 70’s where he ran five yards to throw a punch at a player in retaliation for something that took place on the field. However, if Bates truly did intend to collide with the player it is an inexcusable offense and he should be dealt with accordingly. Does that mean being removed of his job for good? I certainly do not think so, but Princeton is a prestigious university that will certainly act accordingly to protect their prestige. No matter what reputation precedes a person, this is an excellent example where “nobody is perfect.”

Regardless of the outcome, this incident will not define the career of a head coach who will stoicly handle himself moving forward.