West Virginia basketball coach makes apology for anti-gay comment
Luke Gentile
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West Virginia University men’s basketball head coach Bob Huggins said he was sorry Monday following his use of an anti-gay slur while referencing Xavier University fans on a radio program.
Huggins, longtime coach at the University of Cincinnati, made the comment on the Cincinnati-based program the Bill Cunningham Show on Newsradio 700 WLW after he was asked about Xavier, according to a report.
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“I tell you what, any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn’t do it, my God, they can get away with anything,” he said, referring to an apparent action by Xavier fans.
“I think it was ‘transgender night,’ wasn’t it?” Cunningham said.
“It was the Crosstown Shootout. What it was, was all those f***, those Catholic f***, I think.”
Huggins received backlash for the comment and issued a statement of apology later that day.
“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 [anything] coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better, and I will.”
Less than an hour later, WVU Athletics issued a statement offering a similar sentiment.
“Coach Huggins’ remarks today on a Cincinnati radio show were insensitive, offensive and do not represent our university values,” according to the statement.
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“West Virginia University does not condone the use of such language and takes such actions very seriously.”
Huggins’s comments and the incident are under review by West Virginia University and the school’s athletic department, the statement noted.