The comments made by head football coach Dave Christensen to Air Force coach Troy Calhoun on Military Appreciation Day will cost him $50,000 and a one-week suspension.
Tom Burman, UW athletics director, notified Christensen of his decision yesterday stating he discussed the issue with school attorneys and reviewed Christensen’s contract before making his final decision, according to the Casper Star Tribune.
The fine and suspension come after Christensen was publicly reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference last Monday. Christensen issued public apologies both Sunday and Monday after the Oct. 13 game.
“I let my emotions, my passion for our football program and the frustrations of the first half of the season get the best of me, and my actions reflected negatively on our program,” he said in a statement.
At the time of the Mountain West’s reprimand, Burman said he recognized Christensen’s sincere regret, according to ESPN.
In a statement issued yesterday, President Tom Buchanan said he fully supported Burman’s decision, stating that Christensen’s actions did “not reflect the values and the integrity of our athletics program or of the University of Wyoming.”
A video of Christensen’s outburst was posted to YouTube and has since had more than 103,000 views.
The video shows an irate Christensen shouting expletives at Calhoun as they walk down the field. Christensen questioned Calhoun’s ethics and integrity as a coach and belittled Calhoun before he was ushered off the field.
Assistant Pete Kaligis is set to coach the Cowboys this week. Christensen will not be permitted to attend practices or be in the team’s facilities before the Boise State game this weekend, according to the Casper Star Tribune.
Kaligis was promoted to Assistant Head Coach last spring after previously coaching the offensive line. He came to UW after coaching at University of Montana for four seasons, helping lead the team to the 2008 National Championship game, according to Wyoming Athletics.
