Georgetown men’s basketball coach Ed Cooley was suspended one game after throwing a plastic water bottle that struck a child in the crowd after the Hoyas’ 80-77 loss to Xavier on Saturday night in Washington, D.C.
Georgetown athletic director Lee Reed said Sunday that Cooley’s conduct “did not align with the standards we expect of our coaches” and announced in a statement that he will be suspended for the team’s game Monday against Coppin State. Associate head coach Jeff Battle will take over.
Cooley apologized to the Nyahkoon family, “whom I have known for years and regard as my own family,” and vowed, “I will learn from this experience to ensure it never happens again,” in a statement included in the school’s announcement.
After Georgetown missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation, Cooley turned and threw his water bottle into the stands. Video of the incident shows the bottle striking a mother and child who were seated two rows behind Georgetown’s bench.
The coach opened his postgame news conference by apologizing to them. “First and foremost, I have to apologize to the Nyahkoon family,” Cooley said. “(I got) really frustrated and realize I threw my water bottle. … (It was) definitely out of character for me to be so frustrated. But really, you know, that’s not called for, I’ll call them and make amends to that.”
Cooley also apologized to the Georgetown community. “I apologize to the fans, I apologize to our players, university,” he said. “Totally, totally out of character for me to be that way.”
Ed Cooley just NAILED a child with a water bottle he was trying to hurl into the stands after Georgetown lost tonight to Xavier 😳
He opened his press conference apologizing to the family pic.twitter.com/LFm3MYDF47
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) December 21, 2025
The Hoyas led 40-35 at halftime but struggled offensively in the second half, allowing Xavier to take control. Tre Carroll led the Musketeers with 22 points, while Roddie Anderson III and Malik Messina-Moore each contributed 14 in the win.
With the loss, Georgetown fell to 1‑1 in the Big East and 8‑4 overall. The Hoyas will look to bounce back Monday night at home against Coppin State.
Saturday’s outburst was not the first time Cooley’s temper got the best of him after a game against Xavier. Last season, Cooley engaged in a heated encounter with a Xavier fan after the final buzzer sounded in a 74-69 Musketeers home win over Georgetown on Feb. 4.
In that instance, rather than moving toward center court for a customary postgame handshake with the opposing team’s coach, Cooley walked to the baseline near Georgetown’s bench to confront the fan. Xavier athletic director Greg Christopher stepped between Cooley and the fan to separate the two, and Cooley eventually walked away.
Xavier beats Georgetown 74-69, but there was a wild ending at the Cintas Center.
Hoyas coach Ed Cooley got into an altercation with a Musketeers fan. Xavier athletic director Greg Christopher jumped into action and was trying to calm down the fan.pic.twitter.com/2t1Xhf790y
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) February 5, 2025
