West Virginia has suspended Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins for three games and amended his contract from a multi-year agreement to a year-by-year agreement, the university announced Wednesday. The new contract for Huggins, who made homophobic remarks Monday aimed at Xavier’s fanbase in a live appearance on a Cincinnati radio station, slashes $1 million from his salary and ends on April 30, 2024.
Huggins apologized just hours after his remarks in a statement, but the comments triggered an official review from the university that ultimately led to the suspension and a series of other stipulations for Huggins to follow moving forward.
“We will never truly know the damage that has been done by the words said in those 90 seconds,” read a statement signed by WVU president Gordon Gee and athletic director Wren Baker. “Words matter and they can leave scars that can never be seen. But words can also heal. And by taking this moment to learn more about another’s perspective, speak respectfully and lead with understanding, perhaps the words ‘do better’ will lead to meaningful change for all.”
The statement from Gee and Baker said the WVU athletic department will partner with the campus LGBTQ+ Center to formulate training sessions; training will be required for Huggins and all other WVU coaches. Huggins will also meet with LGBTQ+ leaders “from across West Virginia”
“Through those conversations, we expect Coach Huggins, in accordance with these partners, to engage in additional opportunities to show support for the LGBTQ+ community,” the statement said.
Huggins will also be required to work with the university’s Carruth Center for the purpose of raising awareness on how to support students’ health and well-being. The money from Huggins’ pay cut will be directed toward the university’s LGBTQ+ Center, the Carruth Center “and other state and national organizations that support marginalized communities,” WVU’s statement said.
The statement also noted that “any incidents of similar derogatory and offensive language” will result in Huggins’ firing. Additionally, Huggins will make a donation to the Center for Faith and Justice and its Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Xavier University, the university at which his comments were directed.
“West Virginia and West Virginia University are my home,” Huggins wrote in a statement. “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.”
Huggins’ comments made on WLW 700-AM came after he was asked by host Bill Cunningham if he ever tried poaching Xavier players – who were long his rival when he coached at Cincinnati from 1989-2005 – to transfer to the Mountaineers. In response, he launched into denigrating Musketeer fans.
Huggins answered by accusing fans of Xavier, a Jesuit school, of throwing rubber penises on the court at the Crosstown Shootout.
“Yeah, what it was was all those f—, those Catholic f—, I think,” Huggins said, using a homophobic slur.
The segment ended with Cunningham rhetorically asking co-host Steve Moeller, a former assistant coach for Huggins at Cincinnati, if he is “the best.”
“He’s the best,” Moeller responded.
With 935 career wins, Huggins, a 2022 Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer, is the winningest active men’s basketball coach in college basketball.
Huggins was a point guard for the Mountaineers from 1975-77 before starting his coaching career as an assistant at West Virginia in 1977. Huggins made several stops before becoming a head coach at Walsh, Akron and eventually Cincinnati in 1989, where he coached until 2005. During his time with the Bearcats he amassed a 398-128 overall record with 10 regular-season conference championships, four Sweet 16 appearances and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.
Huggins then made a brief, one-season stop in the Big 12 at Kansas State before joining the Big East by taking the West Virginia coaching job in 2007. He guided the Mountaineers from the Big East to the Big 12 in 2012 and has nearly equaled his win total at West Virginia as he accumulated with the Bearcats with 345 wins and 203 losses across 16 seasons at his alma mater.
