A profanity-laced screaming match at a debate tournament in Wichita, Kan., between a University of Pittsburgh debate coach and her Fort Hays State University counterpart has become a sensation on YouTube, prompting an investigation by both schools into the incident.

On Friday, Fort Hays State fired Dr. Bill Shanahan, assistant professor of communication studies, for violating the faculty code of ethics at the Kansas school. Besides cursing up a storm in the video, Mr. Shanahan can be seen dropping his trousers -- revealing his boxer shorts -- to "moon" Shanara Reid-Brinkley, an assistant professor of communication at Pitt.

For her part, Ms. Reid-Brinkley fired off some creative epithets of her own. Teachers and students who gathered to see a serious debate between university rivals were instead treated to one of the worst examples of faculty "coaching" ever.

In the video, the faces of those witnessing the fight said it all -- they were aghast and appalled by the scene. Even John Belushi's "Bluto" Blutarsky and the dysfunctional gang of "Animal House" would have been embarrassed by the coaches' antics that day.

Pitt had no comment about Ms. Reid Brinkley's status, but if Mr. Shanahan's fate is any indication, she has reason to be concerned. The debating programs at both schools have been embarrassed by the actions of their coaches.

At the least, Pitt should replace its coach with someone who understands the difference between constructive argument and the craziness that transpired in March. There's no debate about the unprofessional behavior of two coaches who should have known better. It was a disgrace.