The former University of Cincinnati and current West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins is under fire for making homophobic comments during an interview on a Cincinnati talk radio show. Huggins appeared on 700 WLW on Bill Cunningham's "Stooge Report" segment Monday afternoon. Cunningham introduced Huggins alongside Steve Moeller and "the Seg man" (Bill Dennison.) The conversation between Huggins and Cunningham initially surrounded the college basketball transfer portal, with Cunningham telling Huggins that he heard Huggins has the "best portal transfers.""Steve also tells me that you have the best portal transfers ... Have you ever pushed any Xavier guys to come play for West Virginia?" Cunningham asked Huggins, to which Huggins responded, "Catholics don't do that."Huggins continued: "I mean, I tell you what any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn't do it. Like, they can get away with anything."Another participant in the radio segment then asked if that incident took place during the Crosstown Shootout and if it was "transgender night" when it happened.That's when Huggins could be heard using a homophobic slur."You know what it was, was all of those (expletive), all those Catholic (expletive) I think, they were envious they didn't have one," Huggins said during the interview.Huggins released a statement hours after the interview:"Earlier today on a Cincinnati Radio Program I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and it's crosstown rival, Xavier University. 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," Huggins wrote in the post. West Virginia released a statement after Huggins, saying the situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and athletics department."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 university said in a statement. Xavier University released a statement Tuesday regarding Huggins comments on the radio show."I want to be as clear as I can about what Xavier University - and I - stand for following a segment on a local radio station yesterday. Our mission as a Jesuit Catholic university is to educate each student intellectually, morally and spiritually; to provide an inclusive environment of open and free inquiry; and, to prepare students for a world that is increasingly diverse, complex and independent. Our commitment is to educating the whole person, promoting the common good and serving others," Xavier’s President Colleen Hanycz said in the statement. Terry Nelson played for UC from 1991 to 1993, including during the Final Four and Elite Eight seasons.Nelson is now a radio analyst for UC men's basketball. He described how he learned of Huggins' comments on Monday."Somebody texted and said 'is Hugs done?' And it got into our chat thread, and I was like this can't be real," Nelson said. "I know he doesn't have a filter a times. He's just real. And I just think it's not possible he would say something like this."Nelson said he he knows in his heart that Huggins is sorry for offending anyone. He said he has not reached out to him about the situation.Nelson said he catches up with Huggins, along with other former players, whenever Huggins is in Cincinnati. Nelson said he is worried this will be the end of Huggins' career and thinks he deserves another chance to retire from West Virginia."If he goes out like this it would be disheartening for a lot of people, because we just know -- I know personally what he has meant to me, not having a father. He's been a father figure," Nelson said. "He wanted to walk off on his own terms, and I'm still hoping that he can walk off on his own terms. It's gonna have to be some type of penalty that's going to be paid. I just hope it's not being paid with his job."Huggins coached in Cincinnati for 16 total years, compiling a record of 399 wins and only 127 losses. During his tenure with the Bearcats, the team reached the Final Four in 1992, as well as Elite Eight appearances in 1993 and 1996, respectively.He also was the coach of the all-American and consensus player of the year in the 1999-2000 season, Kenyon Martin. Huggins finished his career in Cincinnati as the winningest coach in program history.After coaching in Cincinnati, Huggins resigned for a season and departed for Kansas State, where he coached for one year. Following the short stint in Manhattan, Huggins eventually flew into Morgantown, West Virginia, to secure the head coach position for the Mountaineers.Huggins has been coaching at West Virginia since 2007.
The former University of Cincinnati and current West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins is under fire for making homophobic comments during an interview on a Cincinnati talk radio show.
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Huggins appeared on 700 WLW on Bill Cunningham's "Stooge Report" segment Monday afternoon. Cunningham introduced Huggins alongside Steve Moeller and "the Seg man" (Bill Dennison.)
The conversation between Huggins and Cunningham initially surrounded the college basketball transfer portal, with Cunningham telling Huggins that he heard Huggins has the "best portal transfers."
"Steve also tells me that you have the best portal transfers ... Have you ever pushed any Xavier guys to come play for West Virginia?" Cunningham asked Huggins, to which Huggins responded, "Catholics don't do that."
Huggins continued: "I mean, I tell you what any school that can throw rubber penises on the floor and then say they didn't do it. Like, they can get away with anything."
Another participant in the radio segment then asked if that incident took place during the Crosstown Shootout and if it was "transgender night" when it happened.
That's when Huggins could be heard using a homophobic slur.
"You know what it was, was all of those (expletive), all those Catholic (expletive) I think, they were envious they didn't have one," Huggins said during the interview.
Huggins released a statement hours after the interview:
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
"Earlier today on a Cincinnati Radio Program I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and it's crosstown rival, Xavier University. 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," Huggins wrote in the post.
West Virginia released a statement after Huggins, saying the situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and athletics department.
"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 university said in a statement.
Xavier University released a statement Tuesday regarding Huggins comments on the radio show.
"I want to be as clear as I can about what Xavier University - and I - stand for following a segment on a local radio station yesterday. Our mission as a Jesuit Catholic university is to educate each student intellectually, morally and spiritually; to provide an inclusive environment of open and free inquiry; and, to prepare students for a world that is increasingly diverse, complex and independent. Our commitment is to educating the whole person, promoting the common good and serving others," Xavier’s President Colleen Hanycz said in the statement.
Terry Nelson played for UC from 1991 to 1993, including during the Final Four and Elite Eight seasons.
Nelson is now a radio analyst for UC men's basketball. He described how he learned of Huggins' comments on Monday.
"Somebody texted and said 'is Hugs done?' And it got into our chat thread, and I was like this can't be real," Nelson said. "I know he doesn't have a filter a times. He's just real. And I just think it's not possible he would say something like this."
Nelson said he he knows in his heart that Huggins is sorry for offending anyone. He said he has not reached out to him about the situation.
Nelson said he catches up with Huggins, along with other former players, whenever Huggins is in Cincinnati. Nelson said he is worried this will be the end of Huggins' career and thinks he deserves another chance to retire from West Virginia.
"If he goes out like this it would be disheartening for a lot of people, because we just know -- I know personally what he has meant to me, not having a father. He's been a father figure," Nelson said. "He wanted to walk off on his own terms, and I'm still hoping that he can walk off on his own terms. It's gonna have to be some type of penalty that's going to be paid. I just hope it's not being paid with his job."
Huggins coached in Cincinnati for 16 total years, compiling a record of 399 wins and only 127 losses. During his tenure with the Bearcats, the team reached the Final Four in 1992, as well as Elite Eight appearances in 1993 and 1996, respectively.
He also was the coach of the all-American and consensus player of the year in the 1999-2000 season, Kenyon Martin. Huggins finished his career in Cincinnati as the winningest coach in program history.
After coaching in Cincinnati, Huggins resigned for a season and departed for Kansas State, where he coached for one year. Following the short stint in Manhattan, Huggins eventually flew into Morgantown, West Virginia, to secure the head coach position for the Mountaineers.
Huggins has been coaching at West Virginia since 2007.
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