Big Sky suspends ISU coach

OGDEN, Utah – The Big Sky Conference has suspended Idaho State men’s basketball coach Joe O’Brien for one game for publicly criticizing officials, league commissioner Doug Fullerton said Monday in a news release.

The suspension stems from comments O’Brien made to the media following Idaho State’s 67-65 loss to Portland State on Saturday, the release said.

O’Brien will be suspended for Idaho State’s game against Northern Arizona on Thursday night.

League regulations ban coaches from criticizing officials at public gatherings or in the presence of news media representatives.

“All coaches in the Big Sky Conference are reminded of this rule prior to the start of the season,” Fullerton said. “They are also aware that a violation of this rule results in an automatic one-game suspension.”