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West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins is under fire for comments made about an opposing fanbase on Monday. The Mountaineer leader was heard using a homophobic slur while talking about Xavier and its supporters.
The comments were made while making an appearance on a Cincinnati radio station. Many are immediately calling for the longtime coach’s job.
Huggins has been roaming the sidelines for major college basketball programs since 1989 when he landed the Cincinnati gig. He put together a string of 14 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with the Bearcats, including a run to the Final Four in 1992.
He then spent a season at Kansas State before moving on to West Virginia in 2007. With the Mountaineers, he’s built another solid program booking 10 Big Dance tickets and another Final Four.
Unfortunately for him, it appears that his future in Morgantown could be in jeopardy.
While speaking on Bill Cunningham’s WLW show, Huggins was asked about his time in Cincinnati as well as his experience with crosstown rival Xavier.
That’s when the insensitive remarks were made.
⚠️ Here’s the audio of Bob Huggins calling Xavier fans “Catholic f–s” during an appearance on Bill Cunningham’s WLW radio show in Cincinnati pic.twitter.com/JTftGx9rQE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 8, 2023
Many quickly responded to the comments online. Check out the immediate social media response below.
One person wrote, “Enjoy the unemployment line, Bob,” while another said, “He needs to be fired immediately.”
This follower posted, “No slip of the tongue here. Good luck surviving this.”
Huggins released a statement on the slur shortly after the comments went viral.
Bob Huggins has released a statement. pic.twitter.com/9ZwHoww8JA
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 8, 2023
“There are consequences for our words and actions,” Huggins wrote. “I will fully accept any coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt.”
He will now await his fate.