I think that sometimes it seems that coaches get a bad rap for trying to protect their players. If you will be honest with yourself, I am sure that 90% of people have made a comment to or about an official from the stands while watching as a fan/parent. Imagine being in the heat of the moment with the pressure that is put on a coach to WIN and then ask yourself what you would have done if you were in the situation that the coach was in.
I was not there, but I have never met a coach that said "I am going to tick off the ref tonight for no reason". I stand behind the Rock Hill coach and say that more than likely my actions on the sideline would have been similar to his.
Let the coaches coach!