West Virginia HC Bob Huggins uses anti-gay slur directed at Xavier fans
West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball head coach Bob Huggins has come under fire for using an anti-gay slur twice to describe Xavier University fans during a radio interview on Monday.
Appearing on 700WLW's "Bill Cunningham Show," Huggins, who coached at the crosstown rival Cincinnati for 16 seasons (1989-2005), was asked if West Virginia has recruited any Xavier players this offseason. The Mountaineers have the No. 1 transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports' team rankings.
"Catholics don't do that," Huggins responds before talking about an incident that he claims occurred during the Crosstown Shootout, Xavier and Cincinnati's annual matchup. "I tell you what, any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn't do it, by God, they can get away with anything."
"It was the Crosstown Shootout, yeah. No, what it was, was all those [expletive], those Catholic [expletive], I think."
The full audio clip with the comments can be found below, per Awful Announcing.
Huggins has since released a statement through the team's Twitter account apologizing for his remarks, saying he'll "fully accept" any punishment he may receive.
"Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier University," the statement read.
"During the conversation, I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for — and I won't try to make one here. I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University. As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept any coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better, and I will."
Shortly after Huggins' apology, the university issued a statement addressing the "insensitive, offensive" remarks and announced that it plans to review the situation before deciding on his future.
"Coach Huggins' remarks today on a Cincinnati radio show were insensitive, offensive and do not represent our university values," the statement read, via the Mountaineers' athletic department Twitter account. "West Virginia University does not condone the use of such language and takes such actions very seriously. The situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and its athletic department."
The 69-year-old Huggins has been the coach at his alma mater since 2007 and is the winningest active coach in college basketball (934–415). He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
More must-reads: