[Hawks Coach]

The reason for having only the head coach stand is game managment. With the head cach and a collection of assistants standing and yelling, you can end up with some problems. That's why the rules limit a team to one coach standing (or make them all sit down if your state doesn't allow the use of the box)

It is an advantage to be able to stand and coach. That means the team on the floor benefits. So you would arbitrarily, due to a very technical deconstruction of a rule, not permit one team a privilege because the head coach wasn't there at game time. This is not the spirit or intent of this rule. You punish the team on the floor for nothing that impacts game management. If the Asst (as head) gets a T, everybody is now seatbelted for the game - the T isn't a problem. You can even let the head coach know he has an indirect if he takes over as head coach. but there is nothing to rationally justify why you would want to prevent the assistant from serving as the head coach, with all privileges, until the head arrives.