Bob Huggins Uses Homophobic Slur And Disparages Catholics During Radio Interview

During a radio interview, West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins used a homophobic slur to refer to Xavier fans while also disparaging Catholics.

Huggins' statements were deemed "offensive" by West Virginia's sports administration, which claimed it was investigating the matter.

Huggins, a former lengthy coach at Cincinnati, was asked about the transfer portal and whether he had a chance of signing a player from Xavier, a Jesuit school and the Bearcats' crosstown rival, during a call to Cincinnati radio station WLW.

"Catholics don't do that," Huggins pointed out. "I tell you what, any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and claim they didn't do it can get away with anything."

"It was called the Crosstown Shootout." I believe it was all of those (expletive), those Catholic (expletive)."

Huggins later published a statement in which he stated that he "used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase for which there is simply no excuse — and I won't try to make one here." I genuinely regret offending anyone, as well as the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati, and West Virginia University.

"As I have shared with my players over the course of my 40-year coaching career, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will accept any that come my way." I feel humiliated, ashamed, and heartbroken for people I have hurt. I must and will improve."

Huggins' words, according to West Virginia's athletic department, were "insensitive, offensive, and do not represent our university values." Coach Huggins later apologised. West Virginia University does not condone such language and takes such actions severely. The problem is being reviewed, and the university and its athletics department will address it."

Huggins served 16 seasons at Cincinnati before being fired in 2005 after a power battle with the school's president and the fallout from a drunken driving conviction in 2004. Huggins left Kansas State after one season to take his dream position at his old mater, West Virginia, in 2007.

Last year, Huggins was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.