Wisconsin-Whitewater coach apologizes for remarks at student editor

MILWAUKEE -- The coach of one of the nation's top Division III football teams has apologized for his expletive-laced remarks and decision to bar reporters after a scathing campus editorial in the student newspaper.

"I'm passionate about our program and how it's perceived. The bad thing about it is my poor reaction and language," Wisconsin-Whitewater coach Lance Leipold told the Associated Press by phone. "That's a huge mistake on my part. I've embarrassed our program and our university."

A school spokesman says Leipold will be publicly reprimanded and the school chancellor will decide on any additional sanctions.

Leipold blistered a student editor with an expletive-laced rant after an editorial in the Royal Purple.

The article, "Spoiled athletes need reality check," discussed a campus incident in which a police officer was called to the weight room after three football players refused to provide student IDs to work out.

Leipold used multiple expletives and told an editor, "It's going to be [tough] to try to cover football next season."

He also said anyone affiliated with the student-run newspaper would not be allowed to call anyone with the football team without approval and that student reporters' questions would go unanswered in the 2009 season, according to the Royal Purple story.

"The door is shut," Leipold said, according to the paper. "Go cover soccer ... I'm sure that will be fun."

Leipold also sent an e-mail Wednesday afternoon to Chancellor Richard Telfer, athletic director Paul Plinske and athletic spokesman Tom Fick discussing his decision.

"If this is the type of journalism our paper is going to have. They can cover someone else -- we will get along just fine," Leipold wrote.

Leipold, the Division III Coach of the Year in 2007, said Thursday that the players had been disciplined for their actions before the editorial ran, but declined to delve into further details, saying that he supports all Warhawks athletic programs and has made amends with other school officials, including the soccer program.

"I've taken accountability, I've apologized multiple times and multiple ways," Leipold told the AP. "I have apologized to the Royal Purple, and from my understanding from our meeting face to face, it's been accepted."

Whitewater has made the Division III championship game four consecutive years, winning in 2007 and losing three other times to powerhouse Mount Union.