Georgetown Coach Ed Cooley Suspended After Water Bottle Incident Involving Child

Georgetown Hoyas men’s head basketball coach Ed Cooley has been suspended for one game following an incident in which he threw a water bottle into the stands that struck a child after Georgetown’s narrow loss to Xavier Musketeers.

The incident occurred Saturday night at Capital One Arena after Georgetown fell 80 to 77. With fewer than five seconds remaining and trailing by three points, the Hoyas missed a final three point attempt that could have forced overtime. Moments after the buzzer, Cooley appeared to throw a plastic water bottle toward the seating area behind the team bench.

Video footage from the arena shows the bottle landing several rows into the crowd, where it reportedly struck a woman and a child seated nearby. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident prompted immediate concern from university officials and the Big East Conference.

Georgetown announced Sunday that Cooley would be suspended for one game as a result of the incident. The university said the decision was made after reviewing video and speaking with those involved. Cooley later issued a public apology, expressing regret for his actions and apologizing directly to the family.

“I lost my composure in a moment of frustration,” Cooley said in a statement. “I take full responsibility and sincerely apologize to the child and family involved.”

The suspension means Cooley will miss Georgetown’s next scheduled game, leaving assistant coaches to handle game day responsibilities. The university also said it would review additional measures to reinforce standards of conduct for staff and players.

The incident has sparked renewed discussion about sideline behavior and accountability in college sports, particularly in high pressure moments late in close games.