WPIAL to institute cool-down period for coaches

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, September 19, 2017 | 5:27 PM

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The WPIAL Board of Directors voted to create a cool-down period after all games before coaches can conduct media interviews.

The idea was to allow “coaches and players the opportunity after tough losses to gather themselves before they say something,” WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said.

The WPIAL wanted to eliminate “heat of the moment” comments that at times lead to discipline.

PIAA officials suspended Clairton football coach Wayne Wade for the first four games of this season, and the WPIAL suspended Penn Hills boys basketball coach Dan DeRose for games this winter, both for post-game comments critical of officiating.

“What we're attempting to do, in a proactive way, is provide an opportunity for coaches who may be prone to say something stupid to step away and take some time to think about what they're going to say,” O'Malley said.

The precise language for the cool-down rule wasn't finalized, but 10 minutes was suggested. O'Malley was hopeful media outlets would be cooperative, but the burden to ask for the buffer will fall on the coach “to request a few minutes to gather their thoughts,” he said.

“We will make the schools aware that there is a responsibility on their part,” O'Malley said. “If (the coach) voluntarily enters into a conversation, then that's on them.”

Influential in adding the cool-down period was board member John Sarandrea, New Castle superintendent and a former Red Hurricanes basketball coach.

“He was very helpful and instrumental in promoting (the idea),” O'Malley said. “He indicated from his knowledge of basketball that the NCAA has that mandatory cool-down period for coaches before they can go into press conferences and talk. He thought that it was a good idea.”

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Clairton, Penn Hills