Notre Dame basketballcoach Micah Shrewsberry issued an apology forlosing his cool on Friday, Jan. 2.
The Fighting Irish coach got into a heated exchange, charging toward an official after California pulled off a 72-71 win over Notre Dame, following a controversial reversal and re-reversal of a four-point play opportunity for the Golden Bears with five seconds remaining in a game that Notre Dame led 71-68.
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Shrewsberry charged toward the official who awarded the four-point play, showing visible anger and yelling at the official. He was held back and restrained by multiple Notre Dame players and staffers for a few seconds before he finally led the postgame handshake line with the Cal team.
"I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night," Shrewsberry's statement read. "My actions were inappropriate and not symbolic of the leader I strive to be and what Notre Dame expects of its coaches and educators. I will learn from this lack of judgment and be better in the future.
"I want to apologize to our team, our University and its leaders, to (California) Coach (Mark) Madsen and his team, and to the ACC, as my actions were unacceptable."
A Statement from Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry:"I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night. My actions were inappropriate and not symbolic of the leader I strive to be and what Notre Dame expects of its coaches and educators. I will learn…
— Notre Dame Men's Basketball (@NDmbb)January 3, 2026
With the Golden Bears trailing 71-68 with seconds remaining, Dai Dai Ames hit a 3-pointer to tie the game, drawing a foul from Notre Dame's Logan Imes in the process. Initially, it was ruled a four-point play, giving Cal a chance to take the lead.
However, the official overturned the call and said the foul happened before the shot. He then reversed course again and said the foul happened during the shot, resulting in a four-point opportunity.
Ames knocked down his free throw with five seconds remaining to give Cal a 72-71 lead. Notre Dame's Braeden Shrewsberry missed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer as time expired, which resulted in Micah Shrewsberry losing his cool.
After this one went final...this happened...https://t.co/rFRnlDRyNh
— Tom Noie (@tnoieNDI)January 3, 2026
It remains to be seen if the ACC and/or Notre Dame will reprimand Shrewsberry for his actions.The third-year Fighting Irish coach had an outburstfollowed by swatting away a local TV station's wireless microphone stand last February following a loss to Louisville.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Micah Shrewsberry apologizes for charging official in Notre Dame loss
