Bob Huggins used homophobic words.
Bob Huggins has had a long career as a college coach. PDO
Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins69, has been in the middle of an uproar for what he said.
The head coach of West Virginia University’s basketball team was interviewed by Cincinnati radio station WLW in which he used a homophobic slur against fans of the opposing team’s Xavier University basketball team.
The host of the radio interview asked Huggins if he would sign a player from Xavier, a Jesuit school.
– Catholics don’t do that. “I’m telling you, any school that throws rubber penises on the floor and then says they didn’t do it, God forbid, they can get away with anything,” Huggins began. According to The Guardian.
The host said after Huggins’ comment that Monday was transgender night. At the same time, the traditional Crosstown Shootout match was played, which is played between the University teams of Cincinnati and Xavier.
– It was about all those grades, those Catholic grades, Huggins said.
If the embed is not visible on your device, you can watch it from here.
Huggins’ words shocked.
Huggins released a statement later on Monday, stating that he had used completely insensitive and disgusting words.
– There is no excuse for them, and I’m not trying to come up with one. I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended and to the Xavier University community and the Universities of Cincinnati and West Virginia.
– As I have shared with my players during my more than 40-year coaching career, our words and actions have consequences and I fully accept what is coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and my heart is broken for those I have hurt. I have to do better, he continued.
West Virginia University’s athletic department said the words to Huggins were offensive and did not represent the university’s values. The university said it does not accept what Huggins said and takes the matter very seriously. The school is also investigating the incident.
Huggins coached the University of Cincinnati basketball team for 16 seasons until he was fired in 2005. He had been arrested a year earlier for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Huggins was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year.