Ed Rush resigns from Pac-12 officiating position

Ed Rush, the Pac-12 Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating and a former NBA referee, has announced his resignation, effective immediately, from the Conference today.

According to other outlets, the resignation comes on the heels of Rush's controversial comments in which he twice allegedly offered a group of officials a trip to Cancun if they ejected or issued a technical foul to Arizona coach Sean Miller during the Pac-12 Tournament.

Whether the remarks were made in jest or not, Miller coincidentally did receive a "T" during the Conference Tourney.

"I would like to thank the Pac-12 for giving me the opportunity to lead a group of officials who are working so hard to make the Pac-12 the best officiated conference in college basketball,” said Rush. “My first and highest concerns have always been the integrity of the game of basketball and the honor of the craft of officiating. While I am proud of what we have accomplished, my decision to resign reflects my strong desire to see the Pac-12 officiating program continue to grow and thrive," concluded Rush.

After serving as a consultant to the Pac-12 men’s basketball officiating program since 2007, Rush was named the Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating in May 2012. This followed his 32 seasons as an NBA official, including his service as NBA Director of Officiating from 1998 to 2003.

In accepting Rush’s resignation, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said, “I want to express my appreciation for the great contribution Ed made to basketball officiating for the Conference during his tenure, particularly in the area of training and the cultivation of new officiating talent. All of us at the Conference thank him for his years of hard work, and we wish him well.”

Scott initially chose not to fire Rush on the basis that the comments could have been made in jest. Nevertheless, the resignation should bring a sigh of relief to the Pac-12 because Rush's continued leadership would have damaged the Conference's reputation and would have raised questions about its transparency.

Scott said a process to select a new officiating coordinator will be part of the overall program review that had already been scheduled for after the college basketball season.

By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald and news services