Windsor Express coach Bill Jones fined $4K, suspended 1 year

Both Windsor Express head coach Bill Jones and Halifax assistant coach Pedro Monteiro have been slapped with a  $4,000 fine for their roles in the cancellation of Game 7 of the National Basketball Association of Canada championship last week.

In addition to the fine, Jones also received a one-year suspension.

Express player Tony Bennett has been banned for life, according to Express owner Dartis Willis. But a media release issued by the league states Bennett is "suspended indefinitely pending further review."

"There's no doubt that there were multiple errors in judgement on both sides on the morning of April 30th that led to the game not being played," said NBL board spokesman Vito Frijia in a release.

"We felt it was our obligation as directors to show that the league will not tolerate a coach initiating a physical altercation with a player."

"I don't agree with the decision. The investigation was botched," Express owner Dartis Willis said a news conference.

The punishments come after the league investigated a physical altercation between Windsor Express and Halifax Rainmen players at the WFCU Centre on the morning of Game 7.

• Windsor Express declared 2015 NBL champ after Halifax forfeits Game 7
• Halifax Rainmen coaches, team fined $90K by NBL after forfeiting championship

Windsor police responded to a call about a fight between 15 and 20 people at 10:40 a.m. on April 30.

When officers arrived, the fight was over and many of the people had already left. The Rainmen were on their team bus.

A Windsor Express assistant coach said the altercation happened after Express staff found the Rainmen practising in the WFCU Centre more than two hours before their scheduled 1 p.m. practice time. 

Words were exchanged and punches and chairs were thrown.

The league declared the Express champions after the Rainmen said they feared for their safety, refused to play Game 7 and headed home.

Jones said at a news conference he regrets the incident and will try to improve his conflict resolution skills.

"I've been in enough scuffles," Jones said.

He said he should have deflated the incident by walking away.

"I'm sure Bill will take the high road, and I know he will, but I normally take the tough road and go right at you," Willis said.

The NBL previously levied $90,000 in fines against the Halifax Rainmen and their players following the fight and the forfeiture of the championship game.

Willis expects the Rainmen to have a team in the league next season.

"My expectation is they're there so we can whoop on 'em," Willis said. "I hope that they're from a board standpoint, from a league standpoint, but more importantly, just the opportunity to simply spank 'em on a regular basis is always good for me."