By Jon Machota
FOXSportsSouthwest.com Special Contributor
February 24, 2011
First-year UTEP coach Tim Floyd certainly didn't go quietly after receiving two technicals during Wednesday night's 83-76 loss at East Carolina.
The former Chicago Bulls coach was whistled for the first one early in the second half, and the second one came not long after. Floyd reacted in such a manner that a police officer had to escort the coach off the floor and into the team's locker room. Video footage of the outburst has already received over 6,500 views on Youtube.
Conference USA officials were reportedly reviewing the footage on Thursday as the Miners were returning to El Paso.
"When a coach is ejected, I expect them to leave the floor," league commissioner Britton Banowsky said in a statement. "Coach Floyd's actions were unacceptable. I have made our expectations clear going forward and do not expect this to happen again."
UTEP (20-8, 8-5 CUSA) was whistled for 27 fouls and five technicals during the game. Miners assistant coach Phil Johnson picked up two technicals shortly after Floyd's pair, removing both coaches from the team's bench with 18:48 still remaining in the contest. The Pirates (14-13, 6-7) capitalized at the free throw line, going 35-for-45.
"I think it was a coaching box violation," said Floyd, according to the El Paso Times. "I had my big toe out of the box, received a warning, turned my back and walked to the bench and got a technical. I'd never seen him (the official who issued all the technicals) before and I don't know who he is. I've always earned my technicals and I didn't feel like I earned it."
Added Floyd: "It has been my experience this year that I've had a lot of men come over to me and say, 'Coach, you need to get back in the box and let us work.' I tend to do that. I guess I probably reacted to that first technical, not really understanding why it was given. I probably earned the second one, but that's part of the game."
