Temple suspends Chaney for rest of regular season

PHILADELPHIA (AP) John Chaney's use of a "goon" may have ended a player's season, and the Hall of Fame coach's career could be the next casualty.

Chaney was suspended for the rest of the regular season by Temple on Friday for ordering rough play by one of his players, who proceeded to foul out in 4 minutes against Saint Joseph's and broke an opponent's arm.

The Hall of Fame coach had suspended himself for one game Wednesday and apologized for his actions. He will miss Temple's home game against Massachusetts on Saturday and road games against Rhode Island and La Salle, before returning for the Atlantic 10 tournament.

"I think my behavior is reprehensible and, as I've said 1,000 times, I take responsibility," Chaney told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "If it's the judgment of the school to suspend me, I can accept the responsibility of my actions."

Chaney has a history of outrageous conduct and comments, once threatening then-Massachusetts coach John Calipari during a postgame news conference. But that conduct was often explained away as "John being John."

Chaney said he hasn't decided how the suspension will affect his decision whether to return for another season.

"I've had a reputation for many years, I've done many things wrong and made a lot of mistakes," Chaney said. "My name is a lightning rod. Right now, I'll just take inventory of myself."

This time, the 73-year-old Chaney is paying the steepest price of his 33-year career.

Chaney's self-imposed one-game suspension was extended to the rest of the season by Temple on Friday, a day after it was discovered Saint Joseph's senior forward John Bryant broke his arm and will likely miss the rest of the season.

Temple president David Adamany announced the suspension in a statement.

"I have advised coach Chaney of this decision and coach Chaney has again expressed his deepest regrets for his actions," Adamany said.

Chaney, angered by what he thought were illegal screens by Saint Joseph's, inserted seldom-used, 6-foot-8, 250-pound Nehemiah Ingram against the Hawks on Tuesday to "send a message." Ingram fouled Bryant hard, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Bryant, a senior and sixth man for the Hawks, has probably played his last game.