Bob Huggins apologizes for using homophobic slur during radio show

WestVirginia basketball coach Bob Huggins apologized Monday after usinga homophobic slur to refer to Xavier fans while also denigratingCatholics during a radio interview.

WestVirginia’s athletic department called Huggins’ comments “offensive”and said it was reviewing the matter.

During acall to Cincinnati radio station WLW, Huggins, a former longtimecoach at Cincinnati, was asked about the transfer portal andwhether he had a chance of landing a player from Xavier, a Jesuitschool and the Bearcats’ crosstown rival.

“Catholicsdon’t do that,” Huggins said. “I tell you what, any school that canthrow rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn’t do it,by God they can get away with anything.

“It was theCrosstown Shootout. What it was, was all those (expletive), thoseCatholic (expletive), I think.”

LaterMonday, Huggins issued a statement saying he “used a completelyinsensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for— and I won’t try to make one here. I deeply apologize to theindividuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier Universitycommunity, the University of Cincinnati and West VirginiaUniversity.

“As I haveshared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there areconsequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept anycoming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken forthose I have hurt. I must do better, and I will.”

In aseparate statement, West Virginia’s athletic department saidHuggins’ remarks “were insensitive, offensive and do not representour University values. Coach Huggins has since apologized. WestVirginia University does not condone the use of such language andtakes such actions very seriously. The situation is under reviewand will be addressed by the University and its athleticsdepartment.”

Hugginsspent 16 seasons at Cincinnati before being fired in 2005 in apower struggle with the school’s president as well as the aftermathof a 2004 drunken driving arrest. After spending one season atKansas State, Huggins took his dream job at West Virginia, his almamater, in 2007.

Huggins wasinducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year.