Georgetown Men’s Basketball Coach Ed Cooley Suspended for One Game
Georgetown men’s basketball coach Ed Cooley has been suspended by the school for one game after an incident where he threw a water bottle into the stands, apparently hitting a child, at the end of a loss to Xavier. The incident occurred on Saturday, and as a result, Cooley will be suspended for the next game against Coppin State, with associate head coach Jeff Battle taking over as coach.
The Hoyas suffered an 80-77 loss to Xavier, falling to 8-4 and 1-1 in Big East Conference play. As the final buzzer sounded, Cooley grabbed a water bottle and flung it toward spectators, with the bottle traveling on a line drive and appearing to hit someone. A video of the moment shows the person who was hit appeared to be a child sitting on a woman’s lap, according to CBS Sports.
Apology and Suspension
Cooley apologized at the postgame press conference to the family of the child, saying it was “out of character” for him to get that upset. He also issued a statement on Sunday, saying “I am deeply sorry for my actions during last night’s game, and sincerely apologize to the Nyahkoon family, whom I have known for years and regard as my own family. My conduct was unacceptable and does not represent who I am or the leader I strive to be.” Georgetown athletic director Lee Reed also issued a statement, saying that Cooley’s conduct did not align with the standards expected of coaches, and that he will be suspended for the next game.
The Big East conference also released a statement, supporting Georgetown’s decision to suspend Cooley and emphasizing the importance of safety and security at Big East events. Cooley is in his third season with the Hoyas, after coaching for 12 years at conference rival Providence. Since his arrival, Georgetown has a record of 35-43.
Consequences and Next Steps
Associate head coach Jeff Battle will coach the team in Cooley’s absence, when Georgetown hosts Coppin State on Monday night. The incident has sparked a conversation about the behavior of coaches and the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment at sporting events. As the season continues, it will be interesting to see how Cooley and the Hoyas respond to this incident and work to move forward.
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