Did coach interefere?

[John Robertson]

Here's a play I had to rule on many years ago. I'd like to hear other umpires' opinions on it.

Runner on first base. Batter hits a line drive. It lands fair in left field by about a foot. The runner attempts to score all the way from first base. The left fielder picks up the ball (which has rolled into foul territory) and throws it toward home plate. The throw hits the third base coach in the back and the runner scores easily. The coach was in the coach's box and he was doing his job--waving the runner around third base. The defensive team lobbies for an interference call. I said no interference because the coach had every right to be coaching from the coach's box. He in no way deliberately got in the way of the throw. However, if the coach had been standing outside of the box and the throw hit him, a case could be made for interference.

Would any of you have called that play differently?

[Edited by John Robertson on Jun 4th, 2005 at 10:40 AM]