Bob Huggins and West Virginia University are working on an agreement that would see the 69-year-old remain as the school’s men’s basketball coach next season on a reduced salary, according to ESPN, after he uttered an anti-gay slur on a radio show this week.
Huggins is expected to sign a reworked contract on Wednesday that would slash his salary from $4.2 million to $3.2 million and would come with a three-game suspension and sensitivity training, the report said, two days after he referred to Xavier fans as “Catholic f–s” during an interview with Bill Cunningham on WLW in Cincinnati.
The longtime coach, who has been at West Virginia since 2007, met with school president E. Gordon Gee on Tuesday, and the university’s board of trustees were involved in the decision to retain Huggins on a restructured deal, per ESPN.
During the interview, Huggins referenced “rubber penises” that were thrown on the court during a game between Xavier and crosstown rival Cincinnati, where Huggins coached from 1989-2005.
“No, what it was was all those f–s, those Catholic f–s,” Huggins said. “They were envious they didn’t have one.”
Huggins issued a statement through West Virginia on Monday after audio of his interview, captured by Awful Announcing, began spreading.
Warning: graphic language
“Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival Xavier,” Huggins said. “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 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 has a 345-203 record in 16 seasons at West Virginia.