Washington, D.C. — Georgetown has announced the suspension of head coach Ed Cooley for one game following an incident where he inadvertently struck a child in the stands with a water bottle out of frustration. This event unfolded after Georgetown’s narrow 80-77 loss to Xavier on Saturday.

The situation arose when Malik Mack missed a last-second three-pointer that could have tied the game. In his reaction, Cooley threw a water bottle towards the stands, where it unfortunately hit a young child being held by an adult spectator. Following the game, Cooley expressed his regret and promised to reach out to the affected family.

Georgetown’s athletic director, Lee Reed, addressed the incident in a statement, emphasizing that Cooley’s behavior was not representative of the university’s values. Reed stated, “I met with Coach Cooley today to discuss the incident, and I conveyed that his actions do not align with the standards we expect of our coaches or Georgetown Athletics as a whole.”

As a consequence of this behavior, Cooley will miss the upcoming game against Coppin State, with associate head coach Jeff Battle stepping in to lead the team during his absence. The Big East Conference also expressed support for Georgetown’s decision, highlighting the importance of safety for all participants and spectators at their events.

This incident marks a turbulent period for Cooley and the Hoyas, who have struggled recently, losing four of their last seven games. Last season, Cooley’s efforts helped the team double its win total, finishing with 18 victories. Currently in his third season, he aims to guide the program back to the NCAA tournament, a feat not accomplished since 2021.

In a follow-up statement after his suspension, Cooley reiterated his remorse. He expressed particular regret towards the child and family involved, saying, “I am deeply sorry for my actions and sincerely apologize to the Nyahkoon family, whom I’ve known for years and consider my own family.”

Cooley described his conduct as unacceptable, stating it does not reflect his values or the leader he strives to be. He extended apologies to the Georgetown community, the team, fans, the conference, and his family, affirming his commitment to learn from this experience to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

With a current record of 35 wins and 43 losses at Georgetown, Cooley is expected to return to the sidelines for the matchup against St. John’s on New Year’s Eve, where he hopes to steer the struggling program back on track.