The Pac-12 conference announced the resignation of Pac-12 Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating Ed Rush on Thursday evening, effective immediately.
Rush and the conference had come under fire for comments Rush allegedly made about Arizona head coach Sean Miller during the Pac-12 tournament. According to a CBSSports.com report, Rush offered referees participating in the tournament $5,000 or a trip to Cancun, should they give Miller a technical foul or eject him at some point during the games.
In the Pac-12 semifinal against UCLA, Miller was given a technical that resulted in the difference in a 66-64 loss to the Bruins.
“Although u never want someone to lose their job, this is a good step for the Pac-12 in restoring confidence in the bball officiating program,” Arizona athletic director Greg Byrne tweeted.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said earlier this week that Rush’s comments were made in jest and that the referees did not take his remarks seriously.
Rush had been the coordinator of officials for just under a year, but had served as a consultant to the officiating program since 2007, after serving as the NBA’s director of officiating.
Thursday, Scott and the conference released this statement: “I want to express my appreciation for the great contribution Ed made to basketball officiating for the Conference during his tenure, particularly in the area of training and the cultivation of new officiating talent. All of us here at the Conference thank him for his years of hard work, and we wish him well.”
Rush also released a statement through the conference thanking “the Pac-12 for giving me the opportunity to lead a group of officials who are working so hard to make the Pac-12 the best officiated conference in college basketball. My first and highest concerns have always been the integrity of the game of basketball and the honor of the craft of officiating.
“While I am proud of what we have accomplished, my decision to resign reflects my strong desire to see the Pac-12 officiating program continue to grow and thrive.”
Scott said that selecting a new officiating coordinator will be part of a previously scheduled program review.
