Louisville coach Jeff Walz suspended one postseason game for criticizing Final Four calls

Louisville women's basketball coach Jeff Walz was suspended one postseason game by the NCAA on Friday for complaining about the officiating during the team's Final Four loss in March.

In a statement, the NCAA said Walz "directed inappropriate comments and profane language toward committee members and NCAA staff seated at the scorer’s table."

The suspension will be served during Louisville's next postseason game.

"I realize that these comments are not acceptable, did not represent the University of Louisville in the best light, and I apologize for my actions," Walz said in a statement. "I will be more mindful in expressing my emotions going forward."

Louisville's season ended with a 73-63 overtime loss to Mississippi State in the national semifinal.

That game was marked by several controversial calls, including a technical assessed to Louisville's Sam Fuehring when she slapped the floor after committing her fourth foul. The technical foul, given during the final minutes, disqualified her for the night.

Walz was visibly frustrated throughout the game, and directed several profanity-laden comments toward the officials and the scorer's table.

Walz told Courier Journal on Friday that the NCAA sent a letter to Louisville athletic director Vince Tyra "a few weeks ago" notifying the school that a reprimand was forthcoming. Walz sent a response to the NCAA and the organization outlined the punishment to the school on Thursday. 

In its statement, the NCAA said it's not the first time that Walz has been reprimanded for similar conduct, citing another incident in 2011 in which he kicked a scorer's table in a tournament loss to Gonzaga. Friday's suspension was given mainly to "apply a stronger penalty to discourage future misconduct."

The committee also said Walz will have to repay the Final Four per diem issued by the NCAA to each competing school to cover hotel and travel costs, as he did back in 2011. Walz said he did not know the specific dollar amount he will have to give back from this year.

Rhonda Lundin Bennett, chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, said that "Walz’s conduct did not meet acceptable standards and has no place in the sport or the women’s basketball championship."

“The committee actively encourages coaches and student-athletes to display good sportsmanship throughout the season and during the championship,” said Bennett, who is also the senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator at Nevada.

Tyra said Friday that he's spoken with Walz and they agreed that his behavior "was not acceptable and is not how we want to represent the University of Louisville."

"Coach Walz’s intensity on the sideline is one of his most endearing qualities ... I appreciate Coach’s cooperation resolving this matter and fully anticipate that he will adhere to championship policies, sportsmanship and conduct expectations in the future," Tyra said.

IMAGES FROM WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL FINAL FOUR