Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball head coach Ed Cooley found himself embroiled in controversy on Saturday after making a derogatory remark about the University of Illinois. The comments came after the Hoyas’ 82-65 home victory over Saint Francis, when Cooley was discussing the development of junior guard Jayden Epps, who played his freshman season with the Fighting Illini.
According to sources close to the program, Cooley used “colorful language” to disparage Illinois while praising Epps’ defensive improvements, stating, “It’s almost like it’s a new player.” He then made the offending comment about Epps’ former school, without explicitly naming Illinois.
A Swift Apology
Realizing the gravity of his words, Cooley quickly took to social media to issue an apology. “My comment today was said in jest with one of my players, but I admit it was a poor choice of words,” the coach wrote. “I have the utmost respect for the University of Illinois, its men’s basketball program, coaches and players.”
I admit it was a poor choice of words.
– Ed Cooley, Georgetown Hoyas head coach
Illinois Coach Underwood Unimpressed
When asked about Cooley’s remarks, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood made it clear he had little interest in engaging with the controversy. “That’s not even worth a waste of my time on,” Underwood said. “I don’t know what he was referencing that about, and Jayden had a productive freshman year here.” He added, “But I’m not going to get into all that. I’ll let our fans and everybody else have some fun, which I’m sure they probably are.”
Epps’ Journey from Illinois to Georgetown
Jayden Epps, the player at the center of the controversy, spent his freshman season with the Fighting Illini before transferring to Georgetown. The guard from Virginia has been a key contributor for the Hoyas this season, showcasing his improved defensive skills that caught Coach Cooley’s attention.
While Epps has not commented publicly on his former coach’s remarks, insiders say he remains focused on his development and helping the Hoyas succeed in the competitive Big East Conference.
Coaching Controversies in College Basketball
This incident is just the latest in a long line of coaching controversies in the world of college basketball. From inappropriate comments to recruiting scandals, coaches often find themselves under intense scrutiny for their words and actions.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Coach Cooley and the Georgetown Hoyas to see how they handle the fallout from this incident. Will it serve as a distraction or a rallying point for the team? Only time will tell.
For now, Cooley’s apology seems to have quelled the immediate backlash, but it serves as a reminder to coaches everywhere to choose their words carefully, especially when discussing other programs and universities. In the high-stakes world of college sports, even an offhand remark can have far-reaching consequences.
