Inappropriate sideline behavior will cost Hawaii an assistant coach when it returns to the field a week from Saturday.
In a press release, the Mountain West Conference announced that it has levied a one-game suspension on Rainbow Warriors special teams coordinator/safeties coach Chris Demarest. The punitive measure will keep Demarest away from the Sept. 21 game against Nevada.
The MWC cited Demarest’s “inappropriate actions on the sideline during the Hawai‘i at Oregon State game on Saturday, Sept. 7.” What exactly that entailed was not detailed in the release.
The release did, though, note that the conference acted in accordance with Mountain West Sportsmanship Rule 4.4.3. That rule, which involves “Obscene Gestures and Language,” is as follows:4.4.3 Obscene Gestures and Language. An individual who uses obscene gestures or unduly provocative language or action toward a game official, Conference personnel, another institution, a student-athlete or personnel of another institution, coach or spectator shall be subject to the following penalties:
4.4.3.1 First Offense. Public reprimand.
4.4.3.2 Subsequent Offenses. Suspension for at least two contests and public announcement through standard Conference channels. The penalty shall not exceed one season of competition.
4.4.3.3 Statute of Limitations. An individual penalized for obscene gestures or language shall have his/her record expunged one calendar year from the date of the latest offense, provided that individual has no further offenses during that time period.
Why Demarest was given a one-game suspension when that specific punishment is not listed among the penalties at the conference’s disposal is unclear.
Demarest is in his second season at Hawaii. He’s also spent time on coaching staffs at, among others, Rutgers (2004-08), North Carolina State (2000-03) and Florida State (1998-99).
(Photo credit: Hawaii athletics)