PORT ORCHARD — After discussing his ejection from the Wolves’ game against Olympia Jan. 9, with district administrators, South Kitsap boys basketball coach John Callaghan agreed to sit out a second game due to behavior that led officials to toss him from the game.

Callaghan earlier served an automatic one-game suspension from the Jan. 13 game at Sumner due to his ejection, as dictated by WIAA state guidelines.

After meeting with South Kitsap High Principal Diane Fox and South Kitsap School District officials, the coach agreed that a second suspended game was appropriate due to his behavior.

District spokeswoman Amy Miller said Callaghan subsequently sat out the Jan. 16 game at Emerald Ridge and will return for the game against Curtis Jan. 19.

“Sometimes coaches get in situations that get the better of them,” Fox said in a school district statement issued Jan. 17.

“In our conversations about his behavior, Coach Callaghan shared his disappointment in himself and (outlined) the steps he has taken with his team to address his poor response to an official’s call,” Fox said.

“He has spoken with his team (and informed them) that he would not tolerate this behavior of his athletes.

“Character shines in moments of conflict,” the principal stated.

“Coach Callaghan has modeled the attributes of reflection and accountability and this is exactly the kind of character we want our athletes to witness. So while our coach did not model sportsmanlike conduct in that moment, he has shown our athletes exactly what to do when they make a mistake.”

The South Kitsap game against Olympia Jan. 9 ended in a forfeit after Callaghan’s ejection.

— Bob Smith is an editor with Kitsap News Group.