Temple coach John Chaney knew he went too far this time.
"My wife isn't talking to me. My daughter isn't talking to me," Chaney said.Chaney did too much talking Sunday when he threatened to kill Massachusetts coach John Calipari. In a tear-choked apology Wednesday, Chaney said no one is angrier than his wife and daughter.
Although a school spokesman later said Chaney was joking about his family, the coach told The Associated Press by telephone that he was serious.
"I've not been a good guy in my house or with anyone since it happened," Chaney said.
After Temple lost 56-55 at UMass on Sunday, Chaney barged into Calipari's news conference, rushed the podium and threatened Calipari. He was restrained by Massachusetts players.
Chaney was suspended by Temple for Wednesday night's game at St. Bonaventure - the first he has missed as coach of the Owls.
The Atlantic 10 Conference on Tuesday let Temple's one-game suspension stand, though commissioner Ron Bertovich said Chaney would face more severe sanctions if he loses control again.
"I apologize to coach John Calipari, the students, fans and supporters of both Temple University and the University of Massachusetts, all young persons and all others who witnessed all or part of this incident," Chaney said Wednesday. "I let you down."
The 13th-ranked Owls defeated St. Bonaventure 65-56 without Chaney on the bench as the Bonnies' fans waved placards reading, "Thou Shalt Not Kill."
In Philadelphia, Chaney said, "I fully accept the actions that the university has taken, and I feel they are deserved - well deserved."
After saying his wife and daughter were angry with him, Chaney said his two granddaughters, his son John Jr., and his future daughter-in-law have remained supportive.
"My daughter called me (Tuesday) night to say she's not talking to me anymore," the coach said. He said Mrs. Chaney, who has been on vacation, relayed a message through their daughter that she wasn't talking to him.
"My wife has not left me," Chaney said. During his statement to reporters earlier in the day, Chaney said his wife had not returned home since the game.
He neglected to mention that his wife, Jeanne, has been on vacation with friends since Sunday, and his daughter, Pamela Clark, who lives in the Boston area, attended the Massachusetts game.
Chaney's dispute with Calipari on Sunday centered on his belief that Calipari tried to intimidate referees during and after the game.
Someone reportedly told Chaney that Calipari spoke with officials and Bertovich after the game about officiating. A furious Chaney, who minutes earlier had praised the Massachusetts team, told Calipari he had no business talking to officials in his absence and said "I'll kill you" and "I'll kick your (butt)."
Bertovich said Tuesday he was speaking privately with Calipari after the game when a game official left a nearby locker room.
In a conversation that lasted less than a minute, Calipari made a comment to the official and the official responded but "voices were never raised," Bertovich said in a statement Tuesday.
"I reminded both parties that situations such as this should be handled in accordance with conference policies," Bertovich said.
Chaney on Wednesday said he hoped Calipari could put the incident behind him.
"I want to reaffirm that I have the greatest respect for Coach Calipari and the University of Massachusetts basketball team. I think they should be the No. 1 team in this country," Chaney said.
He said he looked forward to playing host to Massachusetts Feb. 24 "with model sportsmanship that has always been part of the Temple basketball tradition."
In a statement issued by the Massachusetts athletic department, Calipari said he accepted the apology.
"I accept Coach Chaney's apology. I recognize he took a step forward in doing this," Calipari said. "I'm happy we can put this behind us, move on, and I can go back to coaching my basketball team."