Earlier this week, West Virginia Mountaineers head basketball coach Bob Huggins caused quite a stir in the sports world when he used a homophobic slur in a radio interview. Many thought the longtime Mountaineers head coach could be fired as a result of his actions, but it appears that will not be the case, after all.
According to college sports insider Pete Thamel of ESPN, Huggins and West Virginia are “finalizing details” of a punishment that would allow him to return to the sidelines to coach the team again next season despite using the slur.
“Sources: WVU and coach Bob Huggins are finalizing details for him to return to the sideline next season in the wake of him using an anti-gay slur in a radio interview earlier this week. He’s expected to receive a suspension, $1 million salary reduction and sensitivity training,” Thamel said in a tweet.
Sources: WVU and coach Bob Huggins are finalizing details for him to return to the sideline next season in the wake of him using an anti-gay slur in a radio interview earlier this week. He's expected to receive a suspension, $1 million salary reduction and sensitivity training. pic.twitter.com/w2VSVrl22p
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 10, 2023
“Those are among the requirements for Huggins that are being finalized that he needs to fulfill in order to return,” Thamel added in a follow-up tweet.
Many were shocked and disappointed at the news that Huggins will continue to lead a college program after using the hateful slur, and they took to social media to express their outrage.
Bob Huggins' punishment for intentionally using homophobic language on the radio is to "only" make $3.2 million next year. Beyond pathetic. https://t.co/TlGpCCmiBe pic.twitter.com/zl1Pe6opjv
— Velodus (@velodus) May 10, 2023
When your boosters are heavily committed to this being a good season, you renegotiate the contract to keep your bigot coach. https://t.co/lvyEdeWsnj
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTucker_ATH) May 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/its_whitney/status/1656312080184619008?s=20
disgusting https://t.co/Eb7Zfh4OyH
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) May 10, 2023
West Virginia confirms that they too are as awful as Bob Huggins.
I hope every away student section throws a sack of dilderoons right at his bigoted bloated skull from now until he retires. https://t.co/7oKuFRiS1E
— Jonathan Smith (@DegenerateTBone) May 10, 2023
Huggins in sensitivity training should be televised. https://t.co/OeGzOn4X5Z
— Chris Sedenka (@ChrisSedenka) May 10, 2023
