In Brief : Utah Coach Given Reprimand

Big West Conference Commissioner Jim Haney reprimanded Utah State coach Kohn Smith today for derogatory comments Smith made regarding the Nevada-Las Vegas men’s basketball program last week.

The remarks made by Smith were in direct violation of a section of the Big West Constitution, which prohibits such unsportsmanlike conduct as “being critical publicly of any game official, conference personnel, another university or its personnel,” the conference said in a statement.

“As we as a conference do not condone violations of NCAA rules and regulations, we also legislate against unduly critical public comments,” Haney said from conference headquarters in Santa Ana. “One of the strengths of our conference has been the ability of its institutions to work together for the good of the league.”

In response to the reprimand, Smith, in his first year as Utah State’s head coach, expressed regret.