Iowa suspends coach Fran McCaffery 2 games after profane outburst toward official

Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery has been suspended two games as a result of his outburst toward an official following the Hawkeyes’ loss at Ohio State on Tuesday night.

The suspension was handed down by Iowa athletic director Gary Barta. In a press release, Barta said McCaffery’s comments to an official were “unacceptable.”

The coach was observed by a pair of reporters tracking down a ref in a hallway of Value City Arena in Columbus and calling him a “cheating m-----f----” and a “f------ disgrace.” McCaffery and his son, freshman forward Connor McCaffery, were both given technical fouls during the 90-70 loss to the Buckeyes.

“Following the basketball game at Ohio State, Coach McCaffery made unacceptable comments to a game official in the hallway headed to the locker room,” Barta said. “Fran’s comments do not represent the values of the University of Iowa, Hawkeye Athletics, and our men’s basketball program.”

In addition to McCaffery’s suspension, he was issued a public reprimand by the Big Ten office for violating the league’s sportsmanship policy. The school was also fined $10,000 by the Big Ten.

"The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship,” Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01 says. “Such fundamental elements include integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials."

When asked about the exchange after the game, McCaffery said he could not talk about it. On Wednesday, McCaffery apologized, accepted “full responsibility” and said his emotions got the best of him.

McCaffery and his son both hit with technical fouls

With Iowa trailing 78-67 with 4:08 to play, Connor McCaffery was whistled for a foul after making contact with Ohio State guard Keyshawn Woods. That foul came not long after McCaffery was called for an offensive foul. The technical foul came when McCaffery was upset about the call on the play involving Woods.

Fran McCaffery was called for his technical foul about a minute later.

The elder McCaffery has had plenty of hostile interactions with officials over the course of his career but has been more subdued this season. Tuesday night’s technical was just his second of the season.

The loss to Ohio State dropped the No. 22 Hawkeyes to 21-7 (10-7 Big Ten) on the season.

More from Yahoo Sports:

• Sohi: Raptors, Celtics are similar teams heading in different directions

• What does Nolan Arenado’s extension mean for Bryce Harper?

• Shaq to LeBron’s trade-target teammates: ‘I never cried about it’

• Cops seize Dak Prescott’s dog after it bites neighbor