Chaney Increases Punishment

John Chaney will not coach Temple in the Atlantic 10 Conference men’s basketball tournament, part of a self-imposed punishment Monday for ordering rough play by one of his players in a recent game that resulted in an opponent’s injury.

Chaney, 73, already had been suspended by the school for the last three games of the regular season. He sent in a player he described as a “goon” against St. Joseph’s last week, and Hawk senior John Bryant wound up with a broken arm.

“I believe the fair thing is for me not to coach during the Atlantic 10 championship tournament in Cincinnati,” Chaney said in a statement. “John Bryant is unable to play in the tournament because of the injury he sustained last week against Temple. Neither should I be able to coach.”

It is the third time in less than a week that disciplinary action has been taken on Chaney, who had suspended himself for one game before the extent of Bryant’s injury became known after an MRI exam Friday.

“I never intended -- nor did any of my players intend -- for anyone to be injured, regardless of what may have been said emotionally before, during and after the game,” Chaney said. “But the unfortunate fact is that John Bryant was injured. I have taken full responsibility for my words and actions and have apologized from my heart.”

Chaney had sent Nehemiah Ingram in to “send a message” over what he said was St. Joseph’s use of illegal screens.

Chaney had apologized to Bryant and his family and offered to pay his medical bills.

“Last week, my words and actions were wrong, wrong, wrong,” Chaney said.

Don DiJulia, St. Joseph’s athletic director, declined to comment to Associated Press on Monday, and Coach Phil Martelli did not immediately return a phone message.

Assistant Dan Leibovitz is coaching Temple (14-11, 10-6 Atlantic 10).

Chaney’s only other suspension came in 1994, when Temple had him sit out one game after he threatened then-Massachusetts coach John Calipari during a postgame news conference.