Mountain West slaps Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt for tournament comments

The Mountain West Conference has reprimanded Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt for his statements about the league's decision to limit the conference tournament to eight teams rather than 11 as it has invited in the past.

The format switch, announced Dec. 18, was approved by a vote of the league's Board of Directors. Shyatt was publicly told by the league that "the public criticism was in violation of MW Sportsmanship Rule Sections 4.2-e and 4.4.5. It is expected Coach Shyatt will address any future concerns he may have via the appropriate internal Conference channels."

Shyatt, who is the chairman of the men's basketball coaches, said he was representing all student-athletes and coaches.

"The way in which these student-athletes and coaches were to find out, in an age of student-athlete opportunity and welfare is pursuant, becomes even more disappointing and embarrassing," he said. "When the presidents and athletic directors met a couple weeks ago there was no, I repeat, no communication or dialogue to discuss any such action.

"Could there be a more sad and shallow kind of communication and understanding? Yes, we the coaches and student-athletes were bamboozled, as President Obama would say."

Shyatt said he was told about the vote after the fact by Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson.

"... There were two reasons given, No. 1 finances and No. 2 that this was something that was similar to what some other sports in our league were experiencing," Shyatt said. "Men's basketball, however, has been the torch-bearer for our league. Specifically, since the departure of Utah, BYU and TCU recently. In fact, in men's basketball we have received 17 NCAA bids the last five years. That is approximately 3.5 bids per year, nothing like a one-bid league. Obviously this action to remove, strip and eliminate student-athletes' opportunity is on that has been taken in low-budget and one-bid leagues. It is both and insult and embarrassing, especially that the surprise vote and action was taken with no interest in searching for the student-athletes and coaches involved.

"In my opinion, this action was wrong, non-inclusive and quite opposite to where student-athletes' welfare has gone in the last few years. Why remove the over 28 percent of our young student-athletes' last opportunity and their dream to compete for a berth in the (NCAA Tournament)? I only pray that these opportunities for these student-athletes will be restored soon."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247