Huggins utilizes anti-gay slur on air, later says sorry

• Myron Medcalf, ESPN Personnel WriterMay 8, 2023, 06:04 PM ET

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  • Covers college basketball
  • Signed up with ESPN.com in 2011
  • Graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato

Bob Huggins, the long time West Virginia men’s basketball coach, used an anti-gay slur in an interview with a Cincinnati radio station on Monday, an occurrence he later on apologized for in a statement.The scenario is under review by both the university and its athletic department.During a look on the Costs Cunningham Program on Newsradio 700 WLW, Huggins was asked about his previous in-city rivalry with Xavier during his time as the Cincinnati coach from 1989 to 2005.”Any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and after that state they didn’t do it, my God, they can get away with anything, “Huggins stated in the interview.Cunningham then reacted and said, “I think it was ‘transgender night,’ wasn’t it?”Huggins then stated,”What it was, was all those f-gs, those Catholic f-gs, I think.” He then added:”They were envious they didn’t have one, “which seemed a reference to his earlier comments about things that had actually been tossed onto the court during a game between Xavier and Cincinnati.On the Mountaineers’Twitter page, a declaration of apology appeared from Huggins at 5:21 p.m. ET.”Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was inquired about the rivalry between my previous company, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier University,”the statement checked out.”Throughout the conversation, I utilized a totally insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is merely no excuse for– and I will not try to make one here. I deeply apologize to the people I have actually upset, along with 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 totally accept [anything] coming my method. I repent and ashamed and sad for those I have actually hurt. I should do much better, and I will.”Nearly 20 minutes later on, a statement from the university arrived at the Mountaineers’athletic department Twitter page, resolving the “insensitive, offensive”remarks. “Coach Huggins’remarks today on a Cincinnati radio show were insensitive, offending and do not represent our university values, “the statement checked out.”West Virginia University does not condone using such language and takes such actions very seriously. The scenario is under evaluation and will be resolved by the university and its athletic department.” Huggins, 69, is a West Virginia graduate who also coached at Akron prior to being employed at Cincinnati then coached at Kansas State before joining the Mountaineers. In 38 years on the Department I college sidelines, Huggins has an 863-389 profession record and a. 689 winning percentage.