MORGANTOWN — West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, while appearing on a Cincinnati radio show Monday, used an anti-gay slur to refer to basketball fans at Xavier University.
Huggins, who spent 16 seasons coaching at Xavier’s crosstown rival Cincinnati, appeared on Bill Cunningham’s show on 700 WLW and referred to Xavier fans as “Catholic f##s.”
Xavier is a private Jesuit and Catholic university.
“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,” Huggins said in a statement released by WVU. “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 any coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better, and I will.”
WVU also put out a separate statement:
“Coach Huggins’ remarks today on a Cincinnati radio show were insensitive, offensive and do not represent our University values. Coach Huggins has since apologized. West Virginia University does not condone the use of such language and takes such actions very seriously. The situation is under review and will be addressed by the University and its athletics department.”
Recorded audio of the interview saw Cunningham ask Huggins about his top-rated transfer portal class he signed this spring at WVU. Cunningham asked Huggins if he was able to get any Xavier players to transfer.
“Catholics don’t do that,” Huggins responded.
Cunningham responds by saying Catholics are above transferring.
“Any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn’t do it, by God, they can get away with anything,” Huggins said.
Huggins was making a reference to a Crosstown Shootout game, played annually between Cincinnati and Xavier.
“Yeah, it was the Crosstown Shootout,” Huggins continued. “What it was is all those f##s, those Catholic f##s, I think is what it was. They were envious they didn’t have one.”
Huggins has been WVU’s head coach since 2007 and guided the Mountaineers to the 2010 Final Four.
He signed a contract extension in August 2021 that keeps him associated with the university — either as the head coach or in emeritus status — through June 30, 2027.
His contract does contain a “termination for cause by university,” in which WVU reserves the right to fire Huggins without having to pay him a buyout.
The contract lists eight examples that would be justifiable reasons to fire Huggins with cause, including “Conduct by coach that is clearly contrary to the character and responsibilities of a person occupying coach’s position, offends the traditions of the University, brings discredit to the University or harms the University’s reputation.”
Huggins was touring the state as part of the annual WVU Coaches Caravan, which made a stop in Wheeling on Monday. Huggins was scheduled to appear, but did not.
WVU athletic director Wren Baker was stopped outside the event by local media and didn’t offer any more details.
“We put out the statement earlier tonight and you guys saw coach’s statement,” Baker said. “We really don’t have anything else at this time.
“I haven’t had a chance to get all the facts and information. As soon as we do, we’ll have a follow up.”
Baker did say he had talked to Huggins briefly.
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