Cal Athletic Director Backs Bozeman : College basketball: Coach won’t be disciplined for altercation with Cal State Northridge official.

California will not take disciplinary action against basketball Coach Todd Bozeman, accused of striking a Cal State Northridge staff member midway through the second half of a game at Northridge on Sunday.

In a statement released by the university Monday, Cal Athletic Director John Kasser said Bozeman’s “emotional reaction” was “understandable” based on the coach’s account of a heated verbal exchange he had with Howard Garcia, security supervisor at Northridge home games.

“There are certain trigger words that cause that type of reaction and unfortunately one was directed at him,” said Kasser, who declined further comment. Bozeman, who Sunday night denied throwing a punch, did not return telephone calls to his office.

Garcia, the man Bozeman allegedly struck, said he “had no idea” what “trigger words” Kasser referred to. Asked if he made a racial remark to Bozeman, who is African American, Garcia said, “Negative.”

“I was just trying to settle him down,” he said. “I said, ‘Coach, you just coach your basketball team, and I’ll take care of security.’ That, I think, is exactly what I said.”

The altercation took place with about 11 1/2 minutes to play in a game Cal rallied to win, 76-65, before a standing-room-only crowd of 2,013 in the Northridge Gym.

Upset that a foul was not called when Cal forward Tremaine Fowlkes had two shots blocked under the basket, Bozeman rushed down the floor in front of the Golden Bear bench, slipping and almost falling as he kicked at the hardwood in protest.

Bozeman’s actions inspired a torrent of criticism from Northridge fans seated in bleachers behind the scorer’s table, to the left of the Cal bench.

A videotape shows Bozeman trading barbs with several spectators, one of whom walked behind the Cal bench and paused twice to exchange verbal volleys with the coach.

Bozeman attempted to charge the fan, who continued down the bleachers, away from the Cal bench, but the coach was stopped by Garcia and Paul Bubb, a Northridge associate athletic director.

Bubb said Bozeman and Kurtis Townsend, a Cal assistant coach, were complaining about the lack of security behind their bench when Jim Stupin, one of the game officials, approached. As Bubb assured Stupin that the area was secure, the tape shows Garcia turning away and walking toward the end of the Cal bench.

Townsend followed, Garcia said, continuing to complain about the security. As play resumed, Bozeman joined the conversation. The tape shows Bozeman accentuating his words by gesturing at Garcia four times.

Garcia pointed back at the Cal coach, and Bozeman swiped at his fingers. Then, as Garcia turned to walk away, the tape shows Bozeman throwing a straight right-handed punch that appeared to graze the left side of Garcia’s head.

Townsend, standing to Bozeman’s right, used his left arm to grab the coach and lead him back up the sideline toward the scorer’s table and away from Garcia.

Garcia said he expected an apology from Bozeman, adding that he would not discuss any possible course of action until meeting today with Bob Hiegert, Northridge’s athletic director.

Hiegert defended Northridge’s security efforts and backed Garcia, saying he couldn’t “imagine what Kasser’s referring to.”

“I don’t know if (Cal officials) are trying to cover something up or not,” he said.

Cal plays Thursday against USC at the Sports Arena and Saturday against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion.