He did not say “coon”.
For one thing, does anyone under the age of 40, or 50 even know that “coon” is a racial slur?
This is NOT 1965.
Coon-Ass may have currency ~ a name formerly applied to a Cajun by a Cajun ~ this will ‘splain it all: http://bayoutechedispatches.blogspot.com/2010/08/debunking-alleged-origin-of-word.html