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Bit of a shocker on Friday--Karl Hess will not work another game in the ACC. The league apparently has had enough of Hess' antics, the latest of them involving a racially-sensitive remark he made toward former Wake Forest Board of Trustees member Mit Shah during a recent game.
Hess is most (in)famously known within the Wolfpack fanbase as the official who tossed Chris Corchiani and Tom Gugliotta from a game in Feb. 2012. Hess did not work another NC State game until Dec. 2014.
When Hess finally did get assigned to another NC State game, he drew more attention to himself by calling a technical foul on Mark Gottfried within the first five minutes as Gottfried was in the midst of arguing a call. That did not go over well with anyone, league officials included.
Hess was long under the watch of Clougherty for his past controversial actions, which include the ejection of former NC State players Tom Gugliotta and Chris Corchiani from a game in February of 2012 and an unusually early technical on NC State coach Mark Gottfried earlier this season. He was not scheduled to officiate the 2015 ACC Tournament, a source told Glenn.
It sounds like the ACC had already been preparing to end its relationship with Hess, but the altercation with Shah convinced the league to act right now rather than after the season. The ACC considered giving Hess two weeks' notice so he could try to find games with other leagues but ultimately opted to cut him from the schedule immediately, per ACC Sports.
I’m told that Hess was told to low-key things after his 1st state game and the quick trigger T given to Gottfried. That didn’t last long.
— Adam Gold (@AGoldFan) January 9, 2015
This divorce was also apparently scheduled to happen anyway. I’m told he wasn’t going to be at ACCT anyway. This was going to be last year
— Adam Gold (@AGoldFan) January 9, 2015
League wanted it to end quietly but ultimately Karl forced their hand. Provoked or not, you can’t say what he said to anyone.
— Adam Gold (@AGoldFan) January 9, 2015
This does not mean the end for the King's career since he's free to officiate in any other league that will have him, though Jeff Goodman reports that Hess "may be pondering his future as a referee."