NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams says coach Kevin Stallings’ outburst after the Commodores’ win at Tennessee was “unfortunate” and he will handle the issue internally.
Williams issued a statement Friday afternoon saying Vanderbilt considers the incident a personnel issue.
Stallings apologized Thursday night for his “inappropriate comment” caught by television cameras as he yelled at Commodores guard Wade Baldwin IV following a 73-65 victory over Tennessee. Baldwin clapped in the face of Tennessee forward Armani Moore after the game. During postgame handshakes, replays showed Stallings appeared to shout obscenities and say that he could “kill” Baldwin.
Williams says he and Stallings agree the coach’s offensive and inflammatory language toward a student-athlete was “inappropriate.” They also agreed that the coach must “exemplify” the conduct he expects from his players.