Bob Huggins: ‘I Am Truly Sorry for the Damage I Have Done’
Bob Huggins has released a statement in conjunction with West Virginia President E. Gordon Gee and Athletic Director Wren Baker regarding the use of an anti-gay slur.
This comes after Huggins got himself in hot water after using a homophobic slur not once, but twice, during an appearance on a Cincinnati radio show on Monday morning.
During a Monday morning segment of 700 WLW’s Bill Cunningham Show, Huggins directed the slur toward Xavier University fans.
At the 1:15 mark of the audio clip, which was posted by Awful Announcing on Twitter, you can hear Huggins mention “all those f**s, those Catholic f**s,” when referencing Xavier fans who would “throw rubber penises on the floor, and then say they didn’t do it.”
Huggins’ remarks were in response to a question of if he’d “poached any Xavier guys to come play at West Virginia” to which he said, “Catholics don’t do that.”
Huggins has since agreed to a three-game suspension, a $1M reduction in salary, and will be required to take sensitivity training as part of his agreement to stay on as the men’s basketball coach.
Here is Bob Huggins’ statement, courtesy of a West Virginia press release.
Over the past 48 hours, I have reflected on the awful words that I shared on a radio program earlier this week. I deeply regret my actions, the hurt they unfairly caused others and the negative attention my words have brought to West Virginia University.
I also regret the embarrassment and disappointment it has caused our Athletics family, members of our campus community and the state of West Virginia. I am sorry for the hurt and distress I have caused our students and our student-athletes. I represent more than just our University and our basketball program, and it pains me to know that I have let so many people down.
I have no excuse for the language I used, and I take full responsibility. I will abide with the actions outlined by the University and Athletics leadership to learn from this incident. I have had several conversations with colleagues and friends that I deeply respect and admire over the last 24 hours, and I am keenly aware of the pain that I have caused. I meant what I wrote on Monday – I will do better.
I am looking forward to working with WVU’s LGBTQ+ Center and other state organizations to learn more about the issues facing the community. As a leader, I am eager to use my platform to take what I learn and share it with a broader audience.
I also regret my comments regarding Xavier University. I am hopeful that my personal donation to the university to support its Center for Faith and Justice and its Center for Diversity and Inclusion will further the work it does and the impact it has on its students.
West Virginia and West Virginia University are my home. I love this University and know first-hand that the education and experiences students receive here make a difference. I am truly sorry for the damage I have done. And I am grateful for the chance to move forward in a way that positively represents this University and our state.
