Bob Huggins—West Virginia Coach Who Used Gay Slur—Reportedly Will Keep Job

Topline

Bob Huggins, longtime West Virginia University basketball coach, will keep his job and take a pay cut, sources told ESPN Wednesday, after the coach used an anti-gay slur in a radio interview earlier this week, prompting fierce backlash and an apology from Huggins, who acknowledged “there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept any coming my way.”

Key Facts

Big Number

$4.2 million. That’s how much Huggins was expected to make in the upcoming season, if he signs the amended contract, he’ll make $3.2 million for the upcoming season.

Key Background

On Monday Huggins was interviewed on a Cincinnati-area radio station. During the conversation, the hosts and Huggins began discussing the rivalry between Xavier University and University of Cincinnati, where Huggins used to coach. Huggins mentioned an incident when during a game between the rivals “rubber penises” were thrown on the court. He then said, “What it was, was all those f—, those Catholic f—, I think,” using a derisive word for gay men. The audio quickly spread on social media and Huggins issued an apology, saying in part that he used “a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for.” West Virginia’s athletic department issued a separate statement calling the remarks “insensitive, offensive” and noting the situation would be addressed by both the university and the athletics department. Huggins, 69, has spent the last 16 seasons at West Virginia, before that he served as the head coach at Kansas State University and led Cincinnati’s basketball team for 16 seasons.

Chief Critic

Colleen Hanycz, president of Xavier University, called Huggins remarks “deplorable” and “offensive” during remarks on the Cincinnati campus Wednesday.

Further Reading

Sources: Bob Huggins To Take $1M Salary Reduction For Anti-Gay Slur (ESPN)