WVU Coach Bob Huggins Criticized After Saying Homophobic Slur On Radio

West Virginia University basketball coach Bob Huggins is being widely criticized for his use of a homophobic slur twice while discussing Xavier University fans on Cincinnati radio station 700WLW’s “The Bill Cunningham Show” Monday afternoon.

After one of the show’s guests referred to an incident at a Cincinnati Crosstown Shootout – an annual basketball game between Xavier and the University of Cincinnati – where inflatable penises were thrown onto the court, the show’s host Cunningham said, “I’ll bet it was transgender night.”

“What it was was all those f–s, those Catholic f–s, they were envious they didn’t have one,” Huggins replied.

Audio of the show was not available on 700WLW’s website Tuesday morning, nor was Monday’s episode posted to the station’s podcast feed.

Huggins, who was previously head coach at University of Cincinnati, issued a statement that evening calling his own language “completely insensitive and abhorrent” and vowed to accept any consequences.

The statement was also shared on WVU Men’s Basketball social media accounts.

Several individuals and groups are calling for Huggins’ termination, including Morgantown Pride, who said that at a minimum the entire coaching staff should undergo Safe Zone training.

The ACLU of West Virginia did not call for termination, but stated Huggins’ comments have “opened the floodgates” to more hate. They went on to point out that Huggins is the state’s highest-paid public employee and called on him to make a donation to The Trevor Project or the Appalachian Queer Youth Summit.

WVU Athletics also issued a statement Monday evening that said “the situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and its athletic department.”