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Public reprimand issued to UCLA men's water polo head coach

INDIANAPOLIS---A public reprimand and certain penalties have been issued for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) head coach Adam Wright for a violation of tournament policy during the 2012 NCAA National Collegiate Men’s Water Polo Championship.

The NCAA Men’s Water Polo Committee originally issued the reprimands and other penalties, and UCLA appealed the decision to the Administrative Committee of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet. The Administrative Committee reviewed relevant materials, submitted correspondence and statements made during the appeal hearing in the process of making its final decision.

Specifically, Wright acted aggressively towards and verbally assaulted the officials during and at the conclusion of UCLA’s championship game against the University of Southern California. Wright’s misconduct led the administrative committee to uphold a one-game NCAA postseason championship suspension as well as the withholding of his transportation expenses and championship per diem. The suspension shall apply to the next NCAA postseason opportunity he will have as a coach, regardless of what institution he represents.

“The administrative committee agreed with the men’s water polo committee that the behavior of Coach Wright was unacceptable and has no place in the sport of water polo,” said Jane Miller, chair of the NCAA Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet and senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at University of Virginia.