Georgetown Coach Ed Cooley Criticizes UConn Fans After Loss

Cooley says UConn's home arena should be "sold out every day" despite a reported sellout crowd.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley criticized the attendance at UConn's Gampel Pavilion following his team's 79-75 loss to the Huskies. Cooley said he was "surprised there were empty seats" despite UConn being a "national championship team." This is the latest in a series of bizarre comments and actions from Cooley, who was previously suspended for throwing a water bottle into the stands and tried to justify his team's losing record.

Why it matters

Cooley's comments about UConn's fan attendance are the latest in a string of questionable behavior and statements from the Georgetown coach, who is struggling to turn the Hoyas' program around. His lack of awareness and poor sportsmanship have drawn criticism and raised questions about his leadership.

The details

Georgetown lost a close game to UConn, 79-75, but Cooley was more focused on the crowd size at Gampel Pavilion. He said he was "surprised there were empty seats" despite UConn being a top team. The reported attendance was 10,244, indicating a sellout, but Cooley felt the arena was not packed "to the rafters." This comes after Cooley was suspended a game earlier this season for throwing a water bottle into the stands, hitting a child. Cooley also previously tried to justify his team's poor record by saying they are "blessed" to be 9-9 and 1-6 in the league.

  • Georgetown lost to UConn on Saturday, February 11, 2026.
  • In December 2025, Cooley was suspended one game for throwing a water bottle into the stands.
  • In January 2026, Cooley made comments trying to justify his team's losing record.

The players

Ed Cooley

The head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team, who has faced criticism for his bizarre behavior and comments this season as his team struggles.

UConn

The University of Connecticut men's basketball team, which defeated Georgetown 79-75 and is currently ranked as a top national championship contender.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly, I was surprised there were empty seats up in some sections. I mean, you've got a national championship team. This place should be sold out every day. That actually shocked me.”

— Ed Cooley, Head Coach, Georgetown Hoyas (outkick.com)

“Yeah, we lost, we're this, we're that, but you know what we are? We're blessed. We're blessed to be 9-9. We're blessed to be 1-6 in the league.”

— Ed Cooley, Head Coach, Georgetown Hoyas (outkick.com)

What’s next

The Georgetown athletic department is expected to address Cooley's comments and behavior in the coming days, as the team continues to struggle through a difficult season.

The takeaway

Ed Cooley's lack of awareness and poor sportsmanship have become a distraction for the Georgetown basketball program, raising questions about his ability to lead the team and turn the Hoyas around. His bizarre comments and actions have drawn criticism and undermined his credibility as a coach.