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Revision as of 20:04, 20 October 2006 edit 64.126.109.222 (talk) →Assistant coaches at Kansas State ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 04:57, 1 June 2025 edit undo Red0ctober22 (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users 5,402 edits No edit summary Tag: 2017 wikitext editor
Line 1: {{Short description\|American basketball coach (born 1953)}} ~~{{Unreferenced}}~~ {{For\|the cold fusion physicist\|Robert Huggins}} '''Bob Huggins''' (born [[September 21]], [[1953]] in [[Morgantown, West Virginia]]<ref>http://www.enquirer.com/bearcats/2002/03/23/uc_sullivan_huggins_2.html</ref>) is the head coach of the men's [[basketball]] team at [[Kansas State University]], and was head coach at [[University of Cincinnati]] from 1989 to 2005. His 567-199 record (.740) during his 24 seasons as a head coach ranks him eighth in winning percentage and 11th in victories among active Division I coaches. His string of 14 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is the third-longest active streak. His teams have won 20 or more games in all but four of his 24 campaigns and he has averaged 23.5 victories a season; 26.0 wins per campaign over the past nine years. {{Use mdy dates\|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox college coach \| name = Bob Huggins \| image = Bob Huggins.JPG \| caption = Huggins in 2008 \| current_title = \| current_record = \| contract = \| birth_date = {{Birth date and age\|1953\|9\|21}} \| birth_place = [[Morgantown, West Virginia]], U.S. \| death_date = \| death_place = \| player_years1 = 1972–1973 \| player_team1 = [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball\|Ohio]] \| player_years2 = 1975–1977 \| player_team2 = [[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball\|West Virginia]] \| player_positions = [[Point guard]] \| coach_years1 = 1977–1978 \| coach_team1 = [[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball\|West Virginia]] (assistant) \| coach_years2 = 1978–1980 \| coach_team2 = [[Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball\|Ohio State]] (assistant) \| coach_years3 = 1980–1983 \| coach_team3 = [[Walsh Cavaliers men's basketball\|Walsh]] \| coach_years4 = 1983–1984 \| coach_team4 = [[UCF Knights men's basketball\|UCF]] (assistant) \| coach_years5 = 1984–1989 \| coach_team5 = [[Akron Zips men's basketball\|Akron]] \| coach_years6 = 1989–2005 \| coach_team6 = [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball\|Cincinnati]] \| coach_years7 = 2006–2007 \| coach_team7 = [[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball\|Kansas State]] \| coach_years8 = 2007–2023 \| coach_team8 = West Virginia \| overall_record = {{Winning percentage\|935\|414\|record=y}} \| bowl_record = \| tournament_record = 34–26 ([[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I]])<br />0–1 ([[NAIA men's basketball championship\|NAIA]])<br />3–4 ([[National Invitation Tournament\|NIT]])<br />1–1 ([[College Basketball Invitational\|CBI]]) \| championships = {{Plainlist\| * 2 [[List of NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four appearances by coach\|NCAA Division I regional – Final Four]] ([[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|1992]], [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|2010]]) * 2 [[American Mideast Conference\|MOC]] regular season (1982, 1983) * 2 MOC tournament (1982, 1983) * [[Ohio Valley Conference\|OVC]] regular season (1986) * [[Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament\|OVC tournament]] ([[1986 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament\|1986]]) * 2 [[Great Midwest Conference\|Great Midwest]] regular season (1992, 1993) * 4 [[Great Midwest Conference men's basketball tournament\|Great Midwest tournament]] ([[1992 Great Midwest Conference men's basketball tournament\|1992]]–[[1995 Great Midwest Conference men's basketball tournament\|1995]]) * 8 [[Conference USA\|C-USA]] regular season (1996–2002, 2004) * 4 [[Conference USA men's basketball tournament\|C-USA Tournament]] ([[1996 Conference USA men's basketball tournament\|1996]], [[1998 Conference USA men's basketball tournament\|1998]], [[2002 Conference USA men's basketball tournament\|2002]], [[2004 Conference USA men's basketball tournament\|2004]]) * [[Big East men's basketball tournament\|Big East tournament]] ([[2010 Big East men's basketball tournament\|2010]]) }} \| awards = {{Plainlist\| * [[Jim Phelan Award]] (2015) * C-USA Coach of the Decade (2005) * OVC Coach of the Year (1986)<br />2× Great Midwest Coach of the Year (1992, 1993) * 3× C-USA Coach of the Year (1998–2000) * [[Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year\|Big 12 Coach of the Year]] (2015) }} \| BASKHOF_year = 2022 \| BASKHOF_id = bob-huggins \| CBBASKHOF_year = }} '''Robert Edward Huggins''' (born September 21, 1953),<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.enquirer.com/bearcats/2002/03/23/uc_sullivan_huggins_2.html\|title=SULLIVAN: Huggins' 2 choices: Go home, stay home \|website=www.enquirer.com}}</ref><ref name="Huggins timeline">{{cite web\|title=Huggins timeline \|url=http://enquirer.com/bearcats/1999/11/14/uc_huggins_timeline.html\|website=Cincinnati Enquirer\|access-date=March 14, 2015 \|date=November 14, 1999}}</ref> nicknamed "'''Huggy Bear'''", is an American [[college basketball]] coach. He was the head coach at [[Walsh Cavaliers\|Walsh]], [[Akron Zips men's basketball\|Akron]], [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball\|Cincinnati]], [[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball\|Kansas State]], and [[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball\|West Virginia]]. He was inducted into the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 2022. Huggins is the sixth men's college basketball coach with 900 or more career victories.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Rittenberg \|first1=Adam \|title=Huggins 6th D-I coach to 900 wins as WVU rolls \|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31097526/west-virginia-bob-huggins-sixth-division-coach-900-wins \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|work=ESPN \|date=March 20, 2021 \|language=en}}</ref> He has been to 24 total [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship\|NCAA tournaments]], including 23 in the last 26 seasons. He has led his teams to nine Sweet Sixteen appearances, four Elite Eight appearances (3 at Cincinnati and 1 at West Virginia University), and two [[Final Four]] appearances (1992 with Cincinnati and 2010 with West Virginia). Huggins has also lost in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament a total of 16 times. As of March 2021, Huggins has averaged 23 wins per season over the course of his career. He is also the second coach to win 300 games at two schools.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Clark\|first=Dave\|date=January 5, 2021\|title=Bob Huggins earns his 300th win as West Virginia Mountaineers' head coach\|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]\|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/othercolleges/2021/01/05/bob-huggins-earns-win-300-west-virginia-mountaineers-head-coach-former-cincinnati-bearcats/4137945001/}}</ref> Huggins released a statement announcing his resignation and retirement from West Virginia in 2023, following his [[#Second drunk driving arrest\|drunk driving arrest]].<ref name="ESPNresign"/> He later denied having officially resigned in a letter his lawyer sent to the university demanding his reinstatement. ==Playing career== Huggins, who had moved from Morgantown, West Virginia to [[~~Gnadenhutten~~Port Washington, Ohio]], with his family, played basketball for his father, Charles, at [[Indian Valley High School (Ohio)\|Indian Valley South High School]]. As a senior, he helped lead his team to a ~~26-0~~26–0 season.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.enquirer.com/bearcats/2002/02/24/uc_huggins_achieved.html\|title=Huggins achieved perfection in '72 \|website=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]}}</ref> He was an all-state pick in three years, the Ohio Player of the Year in 1972, and he finished his high school career with 2,438 points, twelfth in Ohio history at the time.<ref name="dayton" /> Huggins returned to his native [[West Virginia]], playing point guard for the [[West Virginia University]] Mountaineers from 1975 until 1977.<ref>http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?section=4936</ref> Cut after a 1977 tryout with the [[Philadelphia 76ers]], Huggins subsequently pursued a master's degree and sold sneakers.<ref>http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/colleges/kansas_state_university/14164102.htm</ref> Huggins began college at [[Ohio Bobcats men's basketball\|Ohio University]]. After his freshman season he transferred to his native [[West Virginia]]. He played [[point guard]] for the [[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball\|Mountaineers]] from 1975 until 1977 under head coach [[Joedy Gardner]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?section=4936\|title=MSNsportsNET.Com – West Virginia University Mountaineers\|access-date=August 21, 2006\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060809012806/http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?section=4936\|archive-date=August 9, 2006\|url-status=dead}}</ref> His career-high was 28 points against [[Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball\|Virginia Tech]]. He averaged 13.2 points as a senior and totaled 800 career points in his three collegiate seasons. He graduated from WVU magna cum laude with a double major in education and physical education and subsequently received a [[master's degree]] in health administration from WVU.<ref name="dayton">{{cite news \|last1=Hartman \|first1=Marcus \|title=5 things to know about former Cincinnati Bearcats coach Bob Huggins \|url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/things-know-about-west-virginia-coach-bob-huggins/ecr8tWUvpEH5T7tzN5O29N/ \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|work=Dayton Daily News \|date=February 21, 2017 \|language=English}}</ref> ==Coaching career== ===Early coaching career=== Huggins began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at West Virginia under Gardner in 1977. He then spent two years as an assistant to [[Eldon Miller]] at Ohio State University. Huggins was 27 when he became a collegiate head coach for the first time, at [[Walsh University]] in 1980.<ref name="timeline">{{cite news \|last1=Brocato \|first1=Joe \|title=Bob Huggins coaching career timeline \|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2023/06/17/bob-huggins-coaching-career-timeline/ \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|work=WV MetroNews \|date=June 17, 2023}}</ref> In three seasons at Walsh, he compiled a 71–26 record, twice earning [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics\|NAIA]] District 22 Coach of the Year honors. Huggins directed the Walsh 1982–83 team to a perfect 30–0 regular season mark and an eventual 34–1 mark. After serving as an assistant at [[UCF Knights men's basketball\|University of Central Florida]] for the 1983–84 season, Huggins was named head coach of the [[Akron Zips men's basketball\|University of Akron]]. Huggins compiled a 97–46 record and reached post-season play in three of his five seasons at Akron, including an NCAA bid in 1985–86 season. ===Cincinnati=== Huggins was the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats from 1989 to 2005. When Huggins was hired, the Bearcats had not earned a bid to the NCAA tournament since 1977. The Bearcats were invited to the NIT in his first two years, and then advanced to the Final Four of the [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|1992 NCAA tournament]], Huggins' third season as coach. This was the first of 13 consecutive seasons in which the Bearcats appeared in the NCAA tournament.<ref name="timeline" /> Twenty-seven percent of Huggins's players graduated with a degree, a rate described by one commentator as "abysmal".<ref name="yahoo-mayo">{{cite news \|last1=Brennan \|first1=Eamonn \|title=Bob Huggins knew about O.J. Mayo's money \|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/bob-huggins-knew-o-j-mayos-money.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=Yahoo Sports \|date=May 30, 2008}}</ref> During four of his years as Cincinnati's head coach, his graduation rate was 0%; that is, none of his players earned a degree.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Shaugnessy \|first1=Dan \|title=History is on Celtics' side in another Game 7, and other thoughts \|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/05/12/sports/history-is-celtics-side-another-game-7-other-thoughts/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=Boston Globe \|date=May 14, 2023}}</ref> In 2021, Huggins told a ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' reporter that criticism of his graduation rates was a "terrible rap", noting that his [[junior college]] transfers were not treated as graduates even if they later earned a degree.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Huggins: A Favorite Son of WVU \|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2586777703 \|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette \|date=October 28, 2021 \|page=C-3\|id={{ProQuest\|2586777703}} }}</ref> According to the NCAA, the Bearcats men's basketball team's graduation rate increased as soon as Huggins left the head coaching job, although as late as 2017, it continued to be much lower than for other athletic programs at Cincinnati.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Szelest \|first1=Jason \|title=Bearcat student-athlete graduation rates rising despite abysmal basketball numbers \|url=https://www.newsrecord.org/sports/bearcat-student-athlete-graduation-rates-rising-despite-abysmal-basketball-numbers/article_91c302de-cfc0-11e7-bea5-7b516b437635.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=The News Record \|date=November 22, 2017 \|language=en}}</ref> Overall, Huggins compiled a 399–127 record (.759) in his 16 years at Cincinnati, making him the winningest basketball coach in the school's history. Only [[Ed Jucker]] has a better win percentage among Bearcats coaches.<ref name="si-hof">{{cite news \|last1=Heltman \|first1=Russ \|title=Bob Huggins Among 2022 Naismith Hall of Fame Inductees \|url=https://www.si.com/college/cincinnati/news/bob-huggins-among-2022-naismith-hall-of-fame-inductees \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=All Bearcats \|date=April 1, 2022 \|language=en}}</ref> Huggins directed Cincinnati to ten conference regular-season titles and eight league tournament titles. The Bearcats appeared in post-season play in each of Huggins' 16 seasons. In addition to their Final Four appearance in 1992, they advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament two other times, in [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|1993]] and [[1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|1996]]. Huggins earned the [[Ray Meyer]] Award as the [[Conference USA]] Coach of the Year a record three times (1997–98, 1998–99, and 1999–2000), and was a unanimous choice for C-USA Coach of the Decade. He was selected national coach of the year by [[ESPN.com]] in 2001–02. He was named co-national coach of the year by ''[[The Sporting News]]'' and was Basketball Times' national coach of the year in 1997–98.<ref name="wvu-bio">{{cite news \|title=Bob Huggins - Men's Basketball Coach \|url=https://wvusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/bob-huggins/48 \|work=West Virginia University Athletics \|language=en}}</ref> His teams won five consecutive conference tournament titles—all four [[Great Midwest Conference]] titles from 1992 to 1995 and the first [[Conference USA men's basketball tournament]] in 1996.{{citation needed\|date=June 2023}} During his tenure, Huggins coached three consensus All-Americans: [[Danny Fortson]], [[Kenyon Martin]], and [[Steve Logan]].<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Vicar \|first1=Nathan \|title=Bob Huggins \|url=https://www.fox19.com/story/27998223/former-uc-mens-head-basketball-coach-bob-huggins/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WXIX \|date=February 2, 2015 \|language=en}}</ref> ====Resignation from Cincinnati==== Huggins was arrested for [[driving under the influence]] in [[Fairfax, Ohio]] on June 8, 2004. He ultimately pleaded [[nolo contendere\|no contest]] to DUI.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.wlwt.com/sports/3422169/detail.html \|title=Huggins Pleads No Contest to DUI Charge – Sports News Story – WLWT Cincinnati \|access-date=February 28, 2010 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725093017/http://www.wlwt.com/sports/3422169/detail.html \|archive-date=July 25, 2008}}</ref> A judge ordered Huggins to pay a $350 fine plus court costs, and to attend a three-day state-certified intervention program.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Huggins' plea: No contest to DUI \|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-06-16-0406160332-story.html \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|work=Chicago Tribune \|date=June 16, 2004}}</ref> On August 23, 2005, UC President [[Nancy L. Zimpher]] said that the Bearcat program under Huggins didn't fit with her plan to upgrade UC's academic reputation.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.wlwt.com/sports/4890801/detail.html\|title=Huggins Isn't Quite Finished at UC \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516101713/http://www.wlwt.com/sports/4890801/detail.html \|archive-date=May 16, 2008 \|url-status=dead \|publisher=[[WLWT]]}}</ref> Zimpher had been embarrassed by Huggins's DUI arrest, news of which broke on the morning of her first commencement as UC's president, at which [[Coretta Scott King]] spoke. In addition, an assistant coach, two players and a recruit had been arrested in the spring of 2005.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news\| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114367599328911693?mod=todays_us_personal_journal \| work=The Wall Street Journal \| first=Skip \| last=Rozin \| title=The Basketball Coach Vs. the College President \| date=March 30, 2006}}</ref> Later that day, Zimpher and athletic director [[Bob Goin]] gave Huggins 24 hours to resign and take a $3 million buyout or accept reassignment outside the athletic department for the balance of his contract. Had Huggins not responded, he would have been fired.<ref name="wlwt.com">{{cite web\|url=http://www.wlwt.com/sports/4885953/detail.html \|title=Huggins Says He Didn't See Ouster Coming – Sports News Story – WLWT Cincinnati \|access-date=February 28, 2010 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201172318/http://www.wlwt.com/sports/4885953/detail.html \|archive-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2141189\|title=Text of letter sent to Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins\|date=August 23, 2005\|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Multiple letters between UC and Huggins' attorney showed that Huggins had known weeks in advance that his ouster was imminent.<ref name="wlwt.com"/><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://news.cincinnati.com/assets/AB7501823.PDF\|website=Cincinnati Enquirer\|title=Cincinnati News, Sports and Things to do \| Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref> He accepted the $3 million buyout.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.wlwt.com/sports/4890801/detail.html \|title=Huggins Isn't Quite Finished at UC – Sports News Story – WLWT Cincinnati \|access-date=February 16, 2008 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516101713/http://www.wlwt.com/sports/4890801/detail.html \|archive-date=May 16, 2008 }}</ref> ===Kansas State=== After spending a year out of the coaching profession, on March 23, 2006, Huggins accepted the head coaching job at [[Kansas State University]],<ref>[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2380885 "Huggins accepts Kansas State job"], [[ESPN\|ESPN.com]], Andy Katz, March 23, 2006.</ref> replacing the fired [[Jim Wooldridge]]. Some of Huggins' recruiting targets included [[O. J. Mayo]] and [[Bill Walker (basketball)\|Bill Walker]], who had been seriously considering playing for him in Cincinnati.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Prisbell \|first1=Eric \|title=Huggins begins season of scrutiny at K-State \|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15243724 \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=NBC News \|date=October 13, 2006 \|language=en}}</ref> In his sole season at Kansas State, Huggins coached the Wildcats to a 23–12 overall record, and a 10–6 Big 12 record. The Wildcats were invited to the NIT, where they won one game.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Bradley \|first1=Cameron \|title=Huggins and Martin: The coaches who rejuvenated men's basketball \|url=https://www.kstatecollegian.com/2020/02/04/huggins-and-martin-the-coaches-who-rejuvenated-mens-basketball/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=The Collegian \|date=February 5, 2020}}</ref> ===West Virginia=== Huggins was the head coach of the Mountaineers from 2007 to 2023. He has 345 coaching wins at WVU;<ref name="wvu-bio" /> only [[Gale Catlett]] has more.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Bock \|first1=Ethan \|title=Bob Huggins Ties Jim Calhoun as Third-Winningest Head Coach All-Time \|url=https://wvsportsnow.com/bob-huggins-ties-jim-calhoun-as-third-winningest-head-coach-all-time/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WV Sports Now \|date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> ====Big East (2007–2012)==== On April 5, 2007, Huggins announced that he had signed a five-year contract to be the head coach at his alma mater, [[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball\|West Virginia University]]. Huggins succeeded [[John Beilein]], who left WVU to coach the [[Michigan Wolverines men's basketball\|Michigan Wolverines]].<ref>{{cite news \|title=Huggins leaves K-State to take WVU job \|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/news/story?id=2827212 \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|work=ESPN \|date=April 5, 2007 \|language=en}}</ref> On December 22, 2007, Huggins won his 600th game, on the road against [[Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball\|Canisius]].<ref>{{cite news \|title=WVU beats Canisius for Huggins' 600th career win \|url=https://www.register-herald.com/sports/wvu-beats-canisius-for-huggins-600th-career-win/article_e6d43973-4d46-5167-bf18-96de59835b4e.html \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|work=Beckley Register-Herald \|date=December 22, 2007 \|language=en}}</ref> The Moutaineers were the 7th seed in the West region of the [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA tournament]] where they defeated 2nd-seeded [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball\|Duke]] 73–67 to move into the Sweet Sixteen, ending a streak of consecutive Sweet 16 appearances for Duke that had begun in 1997.<ref>{{cite news \|title=West Virginia 73-67 Duke (Mar 22, 2008) Game Recap \|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/284000044 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602212633/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/284000044 \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=June 2, 2023 \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=ESPN \|date=March 22, 2008 \|language=en}}</ref> WVU lost its next game against #3-seed Xavier, 79–75, in overtime.<ref>{{cite news \|title=West Virginia 75-79 Xavier (Mar 27, 2008) Game Recap \|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/284000045 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230618161608/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/284000045 \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=June 18, 2023 \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=ESPN \|date=March 27, 2008 \|language=en}}</ref> West Virginia finished the season ranked 17th in the AP poll. At the end of his first season at West Virginia, Huggins signed an 11-year contract extension that would keep him coaching at West Virginia until the age of 65.<ref name="pittsburghlive.com">[http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_565593.html WVU's Huggins signs 11-year deal – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402060645/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_565593.html \|date=April 2, 2009 }}</ref> On May 18, 2008, Huggins completed his recruiting class with the signing of small forward, [[Devin Ebanks]]. The #13-ranked prospect had signed with [[Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball\|Indiana]] before decommitting and looking at [[Memphis Tigers men's basketball\|Memphis]], [[Texas Longhorns men's basketball\|Texas]], [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball\|Rutgers]] and WVU. Ebanks was the last addition to the freshman class that included #11-power forward [[Kevin Jones (basketball)\|Kevin Jones]], #34-power forward Roscoe Davis and #26-point guard [[Darryl Bryant]].<ref name="scout.com">{{cite web\|url=http://westvirginia.scout.com/a.z?s=159&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2008\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716021717/http://westvirginia.scout.com/a.z?s=159&p=9&cfg=bb&c=8&yr=2008\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=July 16, 2011\|title=West Virginia Football & Basketball\|website=westvirginia.scout.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Furfari \|first1=Mickey \|title=Huggins lands top-ranked recruit \|url=https://www.timeswv.com/sports/huggins-lands-top-ranked-recruit/article_8c0a3f2e-c56e-5bc6-aad4-79b6f178e08c.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=Times West Virginian \|date=May 18, 2008 \|language=en}}</ref> West Virginia began the [[2008–09 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|2008–09 season]] 4–0, led by senior [[Alex Ruoff]] and junior [[Da'Sean Butler]]. Having finished the regular season at 21–10 (10–8), West Virginia earned a first round bye in the [[2009 Big East men's basketball tournament\|2009 Big East tournament]], where they lost in the semifinals to Syracuse in overtime, 74–69. WVU earned a #6 seed in the NCAA tournament and lost their first-round game against the #11 seed [[2008–09 Dayton Flyers men's basketball team\|Dayton]] Flyers, 68–60.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=290710221\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316125459/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=290710221\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=March 16, 2009\|title=West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh – Game Recap – March 12, 2009\|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> In 2012, ''Bleacher Report'' described Huggins's third season with the Mountaineers as having been his "best chance" to win a national title.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Batra \|first1=Amit \|title=The Legacy of West Virginia Basketball Head Coach Bob Huggins \|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1183348-the-legacy-of-west-virginia-head-coach-bob-huggins \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=Bleacher Report \|date=May 14, 2012 \|language=en}}</ref> During the [[2009–10 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|2009–10 season]], West Virginia won a school-record 31 games. The team won the [[2010 Big East men's basketball tournament\|Big East tournament]] for the first time. As a #2 seed in the [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA tournament]], the Mountaineers went to their second Final Four in school history, and finished ranked #3 in the ESPN/''USA Today'' poll.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Caskey \|first1=Phil \|title=Athletics Year In Review \|url=http://wvutoday-archive.wvu.edu/n/2010/06/29/athletics-year-in-review.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WVUToday Archive \|date=June 29, 2010}}</ref> In the [[2010–11 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|2010–11 season]], the Mountaineers made it to the third round of the [[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA tournament]], where they lost to Kentucky, 71–63. Huggins embraced Kentucky head coach [[John Calipari]], a close friend, after the game, and wished him good luck.<ref>{{cite news \|title=West Virginia 63-71 Kentucky (Mar 19, 2011) Game Recap \|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/310780096 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126211535/https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/310780096 \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=November 26, 2021 \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=ESPN \|date=March 19, 2011 \|language=en}}</ref> On December 22, 2011, Huggins reached his 700th career victory by defeating Missouri State in the [[Las Vegas Classic]].<ref>{{cite news \|title=Bob Huggins Earns 700th Win - CBS Pittsburgh \|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/bob-huggins-earns-700th-win/ \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|work=CBS News \|date=December 23, 2011}}</ref> ====Big 12 (2012–2023)==== The [[2012–13 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|2012–13 season]] was the first for the Mountaineers in the [[Big 12 Conference]]. Huggins described the new conference's schedule as a "grind" early in the season, due to the increased travel requirements and high quality of opponents.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Huggins: Big 12 Hoops a Grind \|url=https://wvusports.com/news/2012/10/15/22170_131465953765585452 \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=West Virginia University Athletics \|date=October 15, 2012 \|language=en}}</ref> He also remarked about the difference in officiating, with a higher incidence of foul calls in the Big 12 than in the Big East.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Coniglio \|first1=Sam \|title=Bob Huggins talks Big 12 expansion: "This league is so hard" \|url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/bob-huggins-talks-big-12-expansion-this-league-is-so-hard/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WBOY \|date=October 20, 2021}}</ref> After a rare sub-.500 season in 2012–13, Huggins told the press before the [[2013–14 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|following season]], "It's not acceptable to lose … I think it got to the point it was acceptable. I've never had that before, I don't want that again".<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Hertzel \|first1=Bob \|title=WVU's Huggins wants different season in 2013-14 \|url=https://www.timeswv.com/sports/wvu-s-huggins-wants-different-season-in-2013-14/article_25e343eb-b357-5377-83e0-59fa4e5d2b47.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=Times West Virginian \|date=November 29, 2013 \|language=en}}</ref> During his first two seasons in the Big 12, the Mountaineers did not qualify for the NCAA tournament, Huggins's first two consecutive tournament misses as a head coach since his first two years at Cincinnati. In an interview with ESPN in 2016, Huggins said it was "100 percent my fault" that the teams were not able to qualify.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Goodman \|first1=Jeff \|title=From The Mag: WVU coach Huggins says 'Our guys like going to work' \|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14603636/west-virginia-coach-bob-huggins-talks-squad-state-game-yes-sweatshirt \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=ESPN \|date=January 20, 2016 \|language=en}}</ref> Huggins is credited with the introduction of "Press Virginia", a [[pressing defense]] that helped the team win 14 of its first 15 games in the [[2014–15 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|2014–15 season]].<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Johnson \|first1=Raphielle \|title=A shift in philosophy led Bob Huggins to build 'Press Virginia' \|url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2015/11/05/a-shift-in-philosophy-led-bob-huggins-to-build-press-virginia/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=NBC Sports \|date=November 5, 2015}}</ref> The defense was said to have "met its match" in the [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|2016 NCAA tournament]], when 14th-seeded [[2015–16 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks basketball team\|Stephen F. Austin]] defeated 3rd-seeded WVU in the first round. "I don't know why anybody would waste energy pressing us," Huggins said after the game. "We'll throw it to you regardless. That would be a waste of energy really. We're very charitable. We're one of the most charitable groups in college basketball. The second straight game we've turned it over 20 times."<ref>{{cite magazine \|title=Press Virginia meets its match, ousted by Stephen F. Austin \|url=https://www.si.com/college/2016/03/19/ap-bkc-ncaa-west-virginia \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|magazine=Sports Illustrated \|date=March 19, 2016 \|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Bontemps \|first1=Tim \|title=West Virginia admits it overlooked Stephen F. Austin; now it's headed home \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/03/18/west-virginia-admits-it-overlooked-stephen-f-austin-now-its-headed-home/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|newspaper=Washington Post \|date=March 18, 2016}}</ref> Early in the [[2017–18 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|2017–18 season]], Huggins suggested that Press Virginia might not be used as often, due to his roster being depleted.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Raby \|first1=John \|title=Huggins says 'Press Virginia' defense may not get used all the time {{!}} NCAA.com \|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2017-10-27/west-virginia-basketball-bob-huggins-says-press-virginia \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=NCAA.com \|date=October 27, 2017 \|language=en}}</ref> On November 6, 2017, WVU and Huggins agreed to a four-year contract extension that included an option for him to step aside or continue coaching after the 2021–22 season, and starting with the 2022–23 season, an option to continue coaching or to work elsewhere in the athletic department through June 2027.<ref>{{cite news \|title=West Virginia's Bob Huggins get [''sic''] 4-year contract extension \|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2017/11/06/west-virginias-bob-huggins-get-4-year-contract-extension/107414124/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=USA TODAY \|date=November 6, 2017}}</ref> Despite beginning the [[2018–19 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|2018–19 season]] ranked No. 13, the Mountaineers finished the regular season at 12–19 (4–14), earning last place in Big 12 conference play for the first time. Despite finishing last in the conference, the Mountaineers upset [[2018–19 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team\|Oklahoma]] and No. 7 [[2018–19 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team\|Texas Tech]] to advance to the conference tournament semifinals. This led Huggins to tweet a video of himself—when he was the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats—emerging from a coffin to say, "Why all the long faces? We're not dead yet!"<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Clark\|first=Dave\|date=March 14, 2019\|title=Bob Huggins tweets old FOX 19 video emerging from coffin, insists WVU 'not dead yet'\|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]\|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/othercolleges/2019/03/14/bob-huggins-shares-old-fox-19-video-ex-uc-bearcats-coach-coffin/3163493002/}}</ref> West Virginia lost to No. 17 Kansas in the semifinals the next day.<ref>{{Cite news\|date=March 15, 2019\|title=Kansas beats West Virginia 88–74 to reach Big 12 finals\|agency=[[Associated Press]]\|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401120725}}</ref> The Mountaineers were invited to the [[2019 College Basketball Invitational\|College Basketball Invitational]], where they beat [[2018–19 Grand Canyon Antelopes men's basketball team\|Grand Canyon]] in the first round before losing to [[2018–19 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers men's basketball team\|Coastal Carolina]] in the quarterfinals.<ref>{{Cite news\|date=March 25, 2019\|title=Jones leads Coastal Carolina over West Virginia 109–91\|agency=[[Associated Press]]\|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401124755}}</ref> The team's 21 losses were the most in a season in school history. In November 2020, three months after [[Thom Brennaman]] was [[Thom Brennaman#Suspension for on-air comments\|suspended for using an anti-gay slur]] on a [[hot mic]] while broadcasting a [[Cincinnati Reds]] game, Huggins invited Brennaman to speak to the WVU men's basketball team. Huggins thanked Brennaman on Twitter, writing that Brennaman's message "isn't one of excuses but one of accountability."<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Clark \|first1=Dave \|title=Bob Huggins thanks ex-Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman for addressing WVU basketball team \|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2020/11/21/bob-huggins-thanks-former-cincinnati-reds-broadcaster-thom-brennaman-addressing-wvu-basketball-team/6377218002/ \|access-date=July 2, 2023 \|work=Cincinnati Enquirer \|date=November 21, 2020}}</ref> After Huggins faced criticism in 2023 for using the same slur on a live radio show in Cincinnati, several journalists wrote that Huggins must have been aware of how offensive the term was because of his decision to invite and acknowledge Brennaman.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Tramel \|first1=Berry \|title=Tramel's ScissorTales: Bob Huggins knew better than to use slur. How will WVU respond? \|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/big-12/2023/05/09/bob-huggins-anti-gay-slur-radio-west-virginia-mountaineers-basketball/70200159007/ \|access-date=July 2, 2023 \|work=The Oklahoman \|issue=May 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Wysong \|first1=David \|title='Impossible to defend': Social media reacts to Bob Huggins using homophobic slur \|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2023/05/08/bob-huggins-social-media-reacts-on-air-homophobic-slur/70197123007/ \|access-date=July 2, 2023 \|work=Cincinnati Enquirer \|date=May 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=DeCourcy \|first1=Mike \|title=Bob Huggins apologized for using a slur, but that alone will not repair damage done by West Virginia coach \|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/bob-huggins-apologized-slur-damage-done-west-virginia-coach/bzvscrkgdlryu2epgk959stv \|access-date=July 2, 2023 \|work=The Sporting News \|date=May 8, 2023 \|language=en-us}}</ref> In 2021, West Virginia defeated 14th seed [[2020–21 Morehead State Eagles men's basketball team\|Morehead State]] in the [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA tournament]] before losing in a three-point upset to [[Jim Boeheim]]'s [[2020–21 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team\|Syracuse]] Orange in the second round. The Mountaineers' win over Morehead State was also Bob Huggins' 900th career victory.<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Carey\|first=Greg\|date=March 20, 2021\|title=McBride scores 30, Huggins notches 900th win as Mountaineers down Morehead State, 84–67\|work=[[West Virginia MetroNews]]\|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2021/03/20/mcbride-scores-30-huggins-notches-900th-win-as-mountaineers-down-morehead-state-84-67/}}</ref> On November 18, 2021, Huggins earned his 903rd career victory by defeating [[Elon Phoenix men's basketball\|Elon]] in the quarterfinals of the [[Charleston Classic]], passing [[Bob Knight]] all-time among Division I coaches and tying [[Roy Williams (basketball coach)\|Roy Williams]] for fourth all-time.<ref>{{Cite news\|date=November 19, 2021\|title=Sherman leads WVU over Elon, Bob Huggins ties Roy Williams\|agency=[[Associated Press]]\|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401365884}}</ref> Three days later, Huggins passed Williams when the Mountaineers beat [[2021–22 Clemson Tigers men's basketball team\|Clemson]]. Upon passing Williams in career wins, Huggins remarked, "I’m not going to quit until I beat Roy in something."<ref>{{Cite news\|last=Bock\|first=Ethan\|date=November 21, 2021\|title=Huggins Moves Past Roy Williams on All-Time Wins List\|url=https://wvsportsnow.com/huggins-moves-past-roy-williams-on-all-time-wins-list/}}</ref> In the [[2022 Big 12 men's basketball tournament]], WVU defeated [[2021-22 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team\|Kansas State]] 73–67 in the preliminary round and lost 87–63 to Kansas in the next day's quarterfinal round. Huggins was given two [[technical foul]]s and ejected from the game against Kansas after fiercely disputing a technical foul called on [[Taz Sherman]].<ref>{{cite news \|title=WVU's Huggins ejected in first half of Big 12 tourney game \|url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-bob-huggins-taz-sherman-west-virginia-kansas-423986da852708fa8f89b1bb02f46d65 \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=AP NEWS \|date=March 10, 2022 \|language=en}}</ref> ==== Offensive remarks ==== On May 8, 2023, Bob Huggins used a homophobic slur and expressed anti-Catholic sentiment when talking about [[Xavier Musketeers men's basketball\|Xavier]] fans on ''The [[Bill Cunningham (talk show host)\|Bill Cunningham]] Show'', a radio show airing on [[WLW]] in Cincinnati.<ref name="Zagoria">{{Cite news \|last=Zagoria \|first=Adam \|date=2023-05-09 \|title=West Virginia Coach Bob Huggins Uses Homophobic Slur on Radio Show \|language=en-US \|work=The New York Times \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/08/sports/ncaabasketball/west-virginia-bob-huggins-slur-cincinnati-radio.html \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2023-05-09 \|title=Bob Huggins apologizes for homophobic and anti-Catholic remarks he made on a radio station \|url=https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/2023/05/09/645a4f69e2704e77bc8b45a9.html \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|website=MARCA \|language=en}}</ref> Some members of the sports media said that Huggins should resign or be fired as a result.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Zurick \|first=Maura \|date=2023-05-08 \|title=West Va. coach Bob Huggins faces calls for dismissal after homophobic slur \|url=https://www.newsweek.com/west-va-coach-bob-huggins-faces-calls-dismissal-after-homophobic-slur-1799073 \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|website=Newsweek \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine \|last=Rosenburg \|first=Michael \|date=May 9, 2023 \|title=The Best Thing Bob Huggins Can Do for West Virginia Is Resign \|url=https://www.si.com/college/2023/05/09/why-bob-huggins-needs-to-resign-as-mens-basketball-coach-west-virginia \|magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Board \|first=Enquirer Editorial \|title=Enquirer Editorial: Bob Huggins should be shown the door for using homophobic slur \|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/editorials/2023/05/08/enquirer-editorial-bob-huggins-should-be-fired-for-homophobic-slur/70197354007/ \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|website=The Enquirer \|language=en-US}}</ref> Huggins issued an apology for the statement, calling it "completely insensitive and abhorrent" and promising to fully accept any consequences.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=West Virginia coach Bob Huggins apologizes for using anti-gay slur in radio interview \|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/west-virginia-coach-bob-huggins-apologizes-for-using-anti-gay-slur-in-radio-interview-212451232.html \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|website=Yahoo Sports \|date=May 8, 2023 \|language=en-US}}</ref> In response to Huggins's remarks, West Virginia University stated, "The situation is under review and will be addressed by the university and its athletics department."<ref>{{Cite web \|author=W. V. U. Athletics \|title=Statements from Bob Huggins and WVU Athletics \|url=https://wvusports.com/news/2023/5/8/mens-basketball-statement-from-wvu-athletics-and-bob-huggins.aspx \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|website=West Virginia University Athletics \|date=May 8, 2023 \|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Zagoria"/> Some faculty at WVU expressed disappointment about Huggins's comments and outrage regarding increased use of homophobic slurs among the student body as a show of support for Huggins.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Asti \|first=Mike \|date=2023-05-09 \|title=WVU Professor on Bob Huggins' Use of Anti-Gay Slur: 'It Saddens Me' \|url=https://wvsportsnow.com/wvu-professor-on-bob-huggins-use-of-anti-gay-slur-it-saddens-me/ \|access-date=2023-05-10 \|website=WV Sports Now \|language=en-US}}</ref> Morgantown Pride, an [[LGBT\|LGBTQ+]] support organization in Morgantown, called for WVU to terminate Huggins's employment.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Morgantown Pride, Fairness WV issue statements in response to Bob Huggins \|url=https://news.yahoo.com/morgantown-pride-fairness-wv-issue-023300646.html \|access-date=2023-05-10 \|website=Yahoo News \|date=May 10, 2023 \|language=en-US}}</ref> Some national sports commentators called for Huggins to be fired for his remarks, while others argued that firing Huggins would have been an overreaction, since the inappropriate slur that Huggins used has been used for decades in banter among fans of rival teams.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Bock \|first=Ethan \|date=2023-05-08 \|title=National Basketball Media Give Thoughts on Bob Huggins' Actions \|url=https://wvsportsnow.com/national-basketball-media-give-thoughts-on-bob-huggins-actions/ \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|website=WV Sports Now \|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Mundo \|first=Pete \|date=2023-05-08 \|title=Bob Huggins Screwed Up, But Should He Really Be Fired? \|url=https://www.heartlandcollegesports.com/2023/05/08/bob-huggins-screwed-up-but-should-he-really-be-fired/ \|access-date=2023-05-09 \|website=Heartland College Sports \|language=en-US}}</ref> Many of WVU's top donors continued to support Huggins after his comments on the radio caused offense.<ref name="si-resign">{{cite magazine \|last1=Rasmussen \|first1=Karl \|title=Bob Huggins Releases Statement on Resignation, Retirement From West Virginia \|url=https://www.si.com/college/2023/06/18/bob-huggins-releases-statement-resignation-retirement-from-west-virginia \|access-date=June 17, 2023 \|magazine=Sports Illustrated \|date=June 17, 2023 \|language=en-us}}</ref> One long-time WVU donor, a gay man, told WV Sports Now that he planned to redirect his donations away from the athletic department in response to Huggins's comments.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=McVeigh \|first1=Griffin \|title=Long-time West Virginia donor voices opinion on Bob Huggins situation \|url=https://www.on3.com/college/west-virginia-mountaineers/news/long-time-donor-jonathan-adkins-bob-huggins-incidnet/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=On3 \|date=May 16, 2023 \|language=en}}</ref> ==== Second drunk driving arrest ==== On June 16, 2023, Huggins was arrested in [[Pittsburgh]] and charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Jenkins \|first=Jeff \|date=2023-06-17 \|title=Huggins arrested in Pittsburgh on DUI charge; University reviewing incident \|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2023/06/17/huggins-arrested-in-pittsburgh-on-dui-charge/ \|access-date=2023-06-17 \|website=WV MetroNews \|language=en-US}}</ref> Police officers reported that they found him in an SUV that was blocking traffic, with the driver's door ajar and with a "flat and shredded tire". Bags of empty beer containers were found in the vehicle. A breath test determined his [[blood alcohol content]] to be 0.21%, more than two times the legal limit of 0.08%. Officers asked Huggins what city he was in, and did not get a clear response, with Huggins making mention of [[Columbus, Ohio]], a few times.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Borzello \|first1=Jeff \|last2=Thamel \|first2=Pete \|title=West Virginia's Huggins arrested on DUI charge \|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/37868394/west-virginia-bob-huggins-booked-dui-charge-pittsburgh \|work=ESPN.com \|date=17 June 2023 \|language=en}}</ref> ====Resignation and retirement==== On June 17, 2023, Huggins released a statement announcing his resignation from West Virginia. In the statement, he also announced his retirement.<ref name="ESPNresign">{{cite news \|last1=Thamel \|first1=Pete \|title=Huggins resigns as WVU coach in wake of arrest \|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/37870504/sources-west-virginia-expects-bob-huggins-resign-following-arrest \|work=ESPN.com \|date=18 June 2023 \|language=en}}</ref> On July 2, 2023, in a letter sent to West Virginia University, Huggins, through his attorney, David A. Campbell, claimed that "he never signed a resignation letter and never communicated a resignation to anyone by WVU." According to the Associated Press, Huggins threatened legal action if he was not given his job back. In response, WVU officials stated that they were "confused by the allegations within the letter".<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://apnews.com/article/bob-huggins-west-virginia-resignation-dispute-1ebbb0566c1713a771da5b975bf521db \| title=Bob Huggins says he never resigned as West Virginia's coach and wants his job back, attorney claims \| website=[[Associated Press]] \| date=July 9, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web \| url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/37981764/former-coach-bob-huggins-says-never-resigned-wvu \| title=Huggins never resigned from WVU, attorney says \| date=July 9, 2023 }}</ref> ==Head coaching record== {{CBB Yearly Record Start \| type = \| conference = \| postseason = \| poll = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[Walsh Cavaliers men's basketball\|Walsh Cavaliers]] \| conference = [[American Mideast Conference\|Mid-Ohio Conference]] \| startyear = 1980 \| endyear = 1983 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = 1980–81 \| name = Walsh \| overall = 14–16 \| conference = 9–5 \| confstanding = 3rd or 4th \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = 1981–82 \| name = Walsh \| overall = 23–9 \| conference = 11–3 \| confstanding = 1st \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = 1982–83 \| name = Walsh \| overall = 34–1 \| conference = 14–0 \| confstanding = 1st \| postseason = [[1983 NAIA men's basketball tournament\|NAIA First Round]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal \| name = Walsh \| overall = {{winpct\|71\|26\|record=y}} \| confrecord = {{winpct\|34\|8\|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[Akron Zips men's basketball\|Akron Zips]] \| conference = [[Ohio Valley Conference]] \| startyear = 1984 \| endyear = 1987 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1984–85]] \| name = Akron \| overall = 12–14 \| conference = 6–8 \| confstanding = 6th \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = [[1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1985–86]] \| name = [[1985–86 Akron Zips men's basketball team\|Akron]] \| overall = 22–8 \| conference = 10–4 \| confstanding = T–1st \| postseason = [[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 64]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1986–87]] \| name = Akron \| overall = 21–9 \| conference = 9–5 \| confstanding = 2nd \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[Akron Zips men's basketball\|Akron Zips]] \| conference = [[NCAA Division I independent schools (basketball)\|NCAA Division I independent]] \| startyear = 1987 \| endyear = 1989 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1987–88]] \| name = Akron \| overall = 21–7 \| conference = \| confstanding = \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1988–89]] \| name = Akron \| overall = 21–8 \| conference = \| confstanding = \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal \| name = Akron \| overall = {{winpct\|97\|46\|record=y}} \| confrecord = {{winpct\|25\|17\|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball\|Cincinnati Bearcats]] \| conference = [[Metro Conference]] \| startyear = 1989 \| endyear = 1991 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1989–90]] \| name = Cincinnati \| overall = 20–14 \| conference = 9–5 \| confstanding = 2nd \| postseason = [[1990 National Invitation Tournament\|NIT Second Round]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[1990–91 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1990–91]] \| name = Cincinnati \| overall = 18–12 \| conference = 8–6 \| confstanding = 3rd \| postseason = [[1991 National Invitation Tournament\|NIT Second Round]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball\|Cincinnati Bearcats]] \| conference = [[Great Midwest Conference]] \| startyear = 1991 \| endyear = 1995 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = [[1991–92 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1991–92]] \| name = [[1991–92 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 29–5 \| conference = 8–2 \| confstanding = T–1st \| postseason = [[1992 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Final Four]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = [[1992–93 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1992–93]] \| name = [[1992–93 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 27–5 \| conference = 8–2 \| confstanding = 1st \| postseason = [[1993 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = conference tournament \| season = [[1993–94 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1993–94]] \| name = [[1993–94 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 22–10 \| conference = 7–5 \| confstanding = 4th \| postseason = [[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 64]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = conference tournament \| season = [[1994–95 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1994–95]] \| name = [[1994–95 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 23–11 \| conference = 7–5 \| confstanding = T–3rd \| postseason = [[1995 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball\|Cincinnati Bearcats]] \| conference = [[Conference USA]] \| startyear = 1995 \| endyear = 2005 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = [[1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1995–96]] \| name = [[1995–96 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 28–5 \| conference = 11–3 \| confstanding = 1st <small>(Blue)</small> \| postseason = [[1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Elite Eight]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = conference \| season = [[1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1996–97]] \| name = [[1996–97 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 26–8 \| conference = 12–2 \| confstanding = 1st <small>(Blue)</small> \| postseason = [[1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = [[1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1997–98]] \| name = [[1997–98 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 27–6 \| conference = 12–4 \| confstanding = 1st <small>(American)</small> \| postseason = [[1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = conference \| season = [[1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1998–99]] \| name = [[1998–99 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 27–6 \| conference = 12–4 \| confstanding = 1st <small>(American)</small> \| postseason = [[1999 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = conference \| season = [[1999–2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|1999–00]] \| name = [[1999–2000 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 29–4 \| conference = 16–0 \| confstanding = 1st <small>(American)</small> \| postseason = [[2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = conference \| season = [[2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2000–01]] \| name = [[2000–01 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 25–10 \| conference = 11–5 \| confstanding = 1st <small>(American)</small> \| postseason = [[2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = [[2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2001–02]] \| name = [[2001–02 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 31–4 \| conference = 14–2 \| confstanding = 1st <small>(American)</small> \| postseason = [[2002 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2002–03]] \| name = [[2002–03 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 17–12 \| conference = 9–7 \| confstanding = T–3rd <small>(American)</small> \| postseason = [[2003 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 64]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = confboth \| season = [[2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2003–04]] \| name = [[2003–04 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 25–7 \| conference = 12–4 \| confstanding = T–1st \| postseason = [[2004 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2004–05]] \| name = [[2004–05 Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball team\|Cincinnati]] \| overall = 25–8 \| conference = 12–4 \| confstanding = T–2nd \| postseason = [[2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal \| name = Cincinnati \| overall = {{winpct\|399\|127\|record=y}} \| confrecord = {{winpct\|168\|60\|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball\|Kansas State Wildcats]] \| conference = [[Big 12 Conference]] \| startyear = 2006 \| endyear = 2007 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2006–07 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2006–07]] \| name = [[2006–07 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team\|Kansas State]] \| overall = 23–12 \| conference = 10–6 \| confstanding = 4th \| postseason = [[2007 National Invitation Tournament\|NIT Second Round]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal \| name = Kansas State \| overall = {{winpct\|23\|12\|record=y}} \| confrecord = {{winpct\|10\|6\|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name = [[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball\|West Virginia Mountaineers]] \| conference = [[Big East Conference]] \| startyear = 2007 \| endyear = 2012 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2007–08 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2007–08]] \| name = [[2007–08 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 26–11 \| conference = 11–7 \| confstanding = T–5th \| postseason = [[2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2008–09]] \| name = [[2008–09 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 23–12 \| conference = 10–8 \| confstanding = T–7th \| postseason = [[2009 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 64]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = conference tournament \| season = [[2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2009–10]] \| name = [[2009–10 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 31–7 \| conference = 13–5 \| confstanding = T–2nd \| postseason = [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Final Four]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2010–11]] \| name = [[2010–11 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 21–12 \| conference = 11–7 \| confstanding = T–6th \| postseason = [[2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] \| ranking = \| ranking2 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2011–12]] \| name = [[2011–12 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 19–14 \| conference = 9–9 \| confstanding = 8th \| postseason = [[2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 64]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead \| name= [[West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball\|West Virginia Mountaineers]] \| conference = [[Big 12 Conference]] \| startyear = 2012 \| endyear = 2023 }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2012–13]] \| name = [[2012–13 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 13–19 \| conference = 6–12 \| confstanding = 8th \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2013–14]] \| name = [[2013–14 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 17–16 \| conference = 9–9 \| confstanding = T–6th \| postseason = [[2014 National Invitation Tournament\|NIT First Round]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2014–15]] \| name = [[2014–15 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 25–10 \| conference = 11–7 \| confstanding = T–3rd \| postseason = [[2015 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2015–16]] \| name = [[2015–16 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 26–9 \| conference = 13–5 \| confstanding = 2nd \| postseason = [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 64]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2016–17]] \| name = [[2016–17 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 28–9 \| conference = 12–6 \| confstanding = T–2nd \| postseason = [[2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2017–18]] \| name = [[2017–18 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 26–11 \| conference = 11–7 \| confstanding = T–2nd \| postseason = [[2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Sweet 16]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2018–19]] \| name = [[2018–19 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 15–21 \| conference = 4–14 \| confstanding = 10th \| postseason = [[2019 College Basketball Invitational\|CBI Quarterfinal]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2019–20]] \| name = [[2019–20 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 21–10 \| conference = 9–9 \| confstanding = T–3rd \| postseason = No postseason held }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2020–21]] \| name = [[2020–21 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 19–10 \| conference = 11–6 \| confstanding = T–3rd \| postseason = [[2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 32]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2021–22]] \| name = [[2021–22 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 16–17 \| conference = 4–14 \| confstanding = 10th \| postseason = }} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry \| championship = \| season = [[2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season\|2022–23]] \| name = [[2022–23 West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team\|West Virginia]] \| overall = 19–15 \| conference = 7–11 \| confstanding = 8th \| postseason = [[2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament\|NCAA Division I Round of 64]] }} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal \| name = West Virginia \| overall = {{Winning percentage\|345\|203\|record=y}} \| confrecord = {{Winning percentage\|150\|135\|record=y}} }} {{CBB Yearly Record End \| overall = {{Winning percentage\|934\|415\|record=y}} }} == ~~Start~~Coaching ~~of coaching career~~tree == Several former assistant coaches and players of Huggins have gone on to their own careers in coaching. Huggins launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant on [[Joedy Gardner]]'s staff at [[West Virginia University]] in 1977. He then spent two years as an assistant to [[Eldon Miller]] at [[Ohio State University]]. Huggins was only 27 when he became a collegiate head coach, accepting the position at [[Walsh College\|Walsh University]] in 1980. In three seasons at Walsh, he compiled a 71-26 record, twice earning [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics\|NAIA]] District 22 Coach of the Year honors. Huggins directed the 1982-83 team to a perfect 30-0 regular season mark and an eventual 34-1 mark. After serving as an assistant at [[University of Central Florida]] for the 1983-84 season, Huggins was named head coach at the [[University of Akron]] where he compiled a 97-46 record and reached post-season play in three of his five seasons there. * [[Jerrod Calhoun]]: [[Fairmont State Fighting Falcons\|Fairmont State]] (2012–2017), [[Youngstown State Penguins men's basketball\|Youngstown State]] (2017–2024), [[Utah State Aggies men's basketball\|Utah State]] (2024–present) * [[Mick Cronin (basketball)\|Mick Cronin]]: [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball\|Cincinnati]] (2006–2019), [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball\|UCLA]] (2020–present) * [[Larry Harrison (basketball)\|Larry Harrison]]: [[Hartford Hawks men's basketball\|Hartford]] (2000–2006) * [[Andy Kennedy]]: [[Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball\|Cincinnati]] (2005–2006), [[Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball\|Ole Miss]] (2006–2018), [[UAB Blazers men's basketball\|UAB]] (2020–present) * [[John Loyer]]: [[Wabash Valley College\|Wabash Valley CC]] (1999–2000) * [[Frank Martin (basketball)\|Frank Martin]]: [[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball\|Kansas State]] (2007–2012), [[South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball\|South Carolina]] (2012–2022), [[UMass Minutemen basketball\|UMass]] (2022–present) * [[Brad Underwood]]: [[Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks basketball\|Stephen F. Austin]] (2013–2016), [[Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball\|Oklahoma State]] (2016–2017), [[Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball\|Illinois]] (2017–present) * [[Darris Nichols]]: [[Radford Highlanders men's basketball\|Radford]] (2021–present) * [[Erik Martin (basketball)\|Erik Martin]]: [[South Carolina State Bulldogs basketball\|South Carolina State]] (2022–present) * [[Joe Mazzulla]]: [[Boston Celtics\|NBA Boston Celtics]] (2022–present) * [[Josh Eilert]]: [[West Virginia]] (2023–2024) ''(Interim)'' ==Broadcasting career== ~~== Career at University of Cincinnati ==~~ Huggins compiled a 399-127 record (.759) in his 16 years at Cincinnati, making him the winningest coach in terms of victories and percentage in the school's rich basketball history. Huggins directed Cincinnati to ten conference regular-season titles and eight league tournament titles. The Bearcats appeared in post-season play in each of Huggins' 16 seasons at U.C., advancing to the [[Elite Eight]] of the NCAA tournament two times and, in 1991-92, appearing once in the Final Four. Huggins was the host of ''The Bob Huggins Show'', a talk show produced by Gold and Blue Nation, a partnership between WVU Athletics and [[WBOY]] TV.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Green \|first1=Jamie \|title=The season debut of The Bob Huggins Show airs this weekend \|url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/the-season-debut-of-the-bob-huggins-show-airs-this-weekend/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WBOY \|date=December 2, 2022}}</ref> Huggins earned the [[Ray Meyer]] Award as the [[Conference USA]] Coach of the Year a record three times (1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-2000), and was a unanimous choice for [[C-USA]] Coach of the Decade. He was selected national coach of the year by [[ESPN]].com in 2001-02. He was named co-national coach of the year by [[The Sporting News]] last season and was Basketball Times' national coach of the year in 1997-98. He earned national coach of the year recognition from Hoop Scoop in 1991-92 and [[Playboy]] in 1992-93. During this time the program also gained a reputation for a rough style of play and academic under-performance, as well as numerous criminal convictions and arrests for many of his players, thus comparing Huggins to [[Jerry Tarkanian]]'s successful, yet controversial, [[UNLV]] programs. Huggins' program was put on NCAA probation for lack of institutional control in 1998. Huggins was suspended indefinitely following a drunken-driving charge before resigning in 2005. After leaving the head coaching position at WVU, Huggins joined ''Full Court Press'', a radio show about WVU basketball, presented by [[HD Media]]. Huggins also contributed commentary on [[NCAA March Madness (TV program)\|March Madness television coverage]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Kennedy \|first1=Taylor \|title=Former WVU coach Huggins joining HD Media's Full Court Press radio show \|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/former-wvu-coach-huggins-joining-hd-medias-full-court-press-radio-show/article_2b26dd45-25de-5796-b523-ed3d649f2b6f.html \|access-date=November 23, 2023 \|work=Charleston Gazette-Mail \|date=October 23, 2023 \|language=en}}</ref> Huggins is a proven success as a program-builder, recruiter, game strategist, and inspirational leader, and he is believed by fans to have demonstrated this in varying situations during his tenure at Cincinnati. He also has directed star-studded teams, while developing the individual talents of players such as consensus All-Americans [[Danny Fortson]], [[Kenyon Martin]], and [[Steve Logan]], to a succession of conference championships and NCAA tournament runs. Huggins has achieved similar success on the recruiting trails. He has attracted three No. 1-rated junior college players and five [[McDonald's All-American]]s, while six of his last nine recruiting classes have been ranked among the nation's top ten. Inheriting a team short on numbers upon his arrival at Cincinnati, Huggins coached that 1989-90 squad to a post-season tournament berth. Two seasons later, he assimilated the talents of four junior-college transfers and a smattering of seasoned veterans into a cohesive unit, which he directed to successive finishes in the [[Final Four]] and the [[Elite Eight]]. However, Huggins had mixed tournament success after those seasons. He led the Bearcats to the Elite Eight in [[1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament\|1996]] and the Sweet 16 in [[2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament\|2001]], but in all other tournaments, his teams were bounced in the second round, frequently losing to much lower seeds. Some have pointed out that his [[1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament\|1992]] trip to the [[Final Four]] was facilitated by a busted bracket; the top three seeds in the bracket all lost in the second round, and all of the teams the fourth-seeded Bearcats beat were seeded lower than they were. ==Personal life== Over the ensuing seasons, he developed young and inexperienced teams with as many as three freshmen starters into squads which captured two more league titles and made another pair of NCAA appearances. Huggins surprised some astute college basketball followers in 1997-98 by directing a team which had only one returning starter to a 27-6 record, conference regular season, and tournament titles, a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament and a Top-10 finish in the polls. The team was then upset by [[University of West Virginia\|West Virginia]] in the tournament. Huggins' 2001-02 team, unranked when the season began, posted a 31-4 record, setting a U.C. mark for victories, made a clean sweep of the [[Conference USA]] regular season and tournament titles, and was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they lost in double overtime to No 8 seed [[University of California, Los Angeles\|UCLA]]. In 2002-03, Huggins suffered a major heart attack on the last Saturday of September, but was present for the team's first practice two weeks later and coached the Bearcats with the same intensity that has become his trademark. Huggins was born in [[Morgantown, West Virginia]] on September 21, 1953. He and his wife have two daughters.<ref name="wvu-bio" /> The 2003-04 season was business as usual for Huggins, who piloted U.C. to C-USA regular-season and tournament titles, and an NCAA tournament berth while amassing a 25-7 record. The 2004-05 Bearcats posted a 25-8 ledger, the ninth season in the past ten years that U.C. has won 25 or more games. Huggins has a family history of heart problems: his father had a [[heart attack]] before the age of 40. In 2002, at [[Pittsburgh International Airport]] during a recruiting trip, Huggins experienced a heart attack himself. He was treated at a medical center in [[Beaver, Pennsylvania]], where he had surgery to implant a [[stent]].<ref>{{cite news \|title=Huggins in serious condition after heart attack \|url=https://www.espn.com/ncb/news/2002/0928/1438110.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=ESPN \|date=September 28, 2002}}</ref> Later in his life, due to [[atrial fibrillation]], Huggins had a [[defibrillator]] implanted. His defibrillator turned on during a game in 2017 against [[Texas Longhorns men's basketball\|Texas]], causing him to clutch his chest and fall down. He was examined at the scene by medical personnel, and resumed coaching afterwards.<ref>{{cite magazine \|title=Huggins: Defibrillator reason for falling to court \|url=https://www.si.com/college/2017/02/21/west-virginia-bob-huggins-defibrillator-health-scare-1 \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|magazine=Sports Illustrated \|date=February 21, 2017 \|language=en-us}}</ref> ~~==Resignation==~~ In August 2005, the University of Cincinnati bought out the final three years of his contract in exchange for his resignation. In an interview on ESPN, Huggins admitted that his 2004 arrest for [[driving under the influence]] created the perception that he was not a proper representative for the University.<ref>[http://news.kypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051202/SPT0201/512020311/-1/BACK01 "Huggins: DUI Sealed Fate,"], ''[[Cincinnati Post]]'', Dec. 2, 2005</ref> The annual Bob Huggins [[fish fry\|Fish Fry]] has been held 11 times, most recently on January 27, 2023, to raise money for charity.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Farrell \|first1=Nick \|title=Headline guest announced for 2023 Bob Huggins Fish Fry \|url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/wvuhoops/headline-guest-announced-for-2023-bob-huggins-fish-fry/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WBOY \|date=December 19, 2022}}</ref> At the 2023 event, where [[Charles Barkley]] was the headlining guest, a record 2,700 people attended. The event has raised more than $16 million for charities including the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment Fund, named after Huggins's mother, and the Remembering the Miners organization.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Trinone \|first1=Anjelica \|title=Record crowd raises millions at Bob Huggins Fish Fry \|url=https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/record-crowd-raises-millions-at-bob-huggins-fish-fry/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WBOY \|date=January 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|last1=Minnich \|first1=Michael \|title=Charles Barkley part of full house for Bob Huggins Fish Fry fundraiser in Morgantown, West Virginia \|url=https://www.wvnews.com/bluegoldnews/charles-barkley-part-of-full-house-for-bob-huggins-fish-fry-fundraiser-in-morgantown-west/article_e48348c2-9e9a-11ed-878f-6b60a72bdd0f.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WV News \|date=January 27, 2023 \|language=en}}</ref> ~~==Career at Kansas State; recruiting==~~ After spending a year out of the coaching profession, on March 23, [[2006 in sports\|2006]], Huggins accepted the head coaching job at Kansas State University.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2380885 "Huggins accepts Kansas State job"], [[ESPN\|ESPN.com]], Andy Katz, March 23, 2006.</ref> Since the hiring, Huggins has significantly upgraded basketball recruiting at Kansas State. His initial recruiting class, which is often hastily thrown together by a new coach, featured a 7-foot-3, 265-pound [[center (basketball)\|center]] from [[Jacksonville, Florida]], Jason Bennett. Bennett is a consensus top 50 player for the 2006 recruiting class.<ref>http://kansasstate.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?SID=889&Year=2006&ra_key=1428</ref> The class also featured two other highly-regarded prospects, Blake Young, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound [[shooting guard]], and Luis Colon, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound center/[[power forward]]. For each WVU win against Kansas, Huggins's contract stipulated a $25,000 win bonus, which he donated to the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment Fund.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Payne \|first1=Marissa \|title=West Virginia's basketball coach has been donating his win bonuses to cancer research \|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/01/25/west-virginias-basketball-coach-has-been-donating-his-win-bonuses-to-cancer-research/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|newspaper=Washington Post \|date=January 25, 2017}}</ref> He has also hosted fundraising events for WVU,<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Rice \|first1=Cassie \|title=Huggins Homecoming raises $150K to support WVU Cancer Institute \|url=https://www.timeswv.com/news/monday_news/huggins-homecoming-raises-150k-to-support-wvu-cancer-institute/article_8179d858-e2bd-11eb-87b9-bbec052084e0.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=Times West Virginian \|date=July 12, 2021 \|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release \|title=Huggins event raises over $268K to benefit research at WVU Cancer Institute \|url=https://www.mybuckhannon.com/huggins-event-raises-over-268k-to-benefit-research-at-wvu-cancer-institute/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=My Buckhannon \|date=September 18, 2021}}</ref> and he and his wife have donated to the university on their own.<ref>{{cite news \|title=Huggins, wife donate $100,000 to WVU \|url=https://www.wvnews.com/theet/news/local/huggins-wife-donate-100-000-to-wvu/article_9ee8070e-006f-11e3-b2b4-001a4bcf887a.html \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WV News \|date=August 8, 2013 \|language=en}}</ref> Following Huggins's use of a gay slur to describe Xavier University students, he made a "substantial donation" to support Xavier's Center for Faith and Justice and Center for Diversity and Inclusion.<ref>{{cite news \|last1=Goffinet \|first1=Jared \|title=Bob Huggins to make 'substantial donation' to Xavier after anti-gay slur \|url=https://www.fox19.com/2023/05/10/bob-huggins-west-virginia-make-decision-his-return-following-anti-gay-comments-report/ \|access-date=June 18, 2023 \|work=WXIX \|date=May 10, 2023 \|language=en}}</ref> On June 23rd, Huggins landed a commitment from perhaps the biggest recruit in K-State's history in 6'8" small forward Michael Beasley, ranked in the top 5 prospects in the class of 2007 by most recruiting services, although several have him as the top prospect in the country.<ref>http://kansasstate.rivals.com/viewrank.asp?SID=889&Year=2007&ra_key=1611</ref> Huggins has also targeted consensus top 10 prospects [[O.J. Mayo]] and Bill Walker for the 2007 class. ==See also== ~~==Assistant coaches at Kansas State==~~ * [[List of college men's basketball career coaching wins leaders]] ~~Huggins' first staff of assistant coaches at Kansas State includes Frank Martin, Dalonte Hill, Erik Martin and Brad Underwood (as director of basketball operations).~~ * [[List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach]] ==References== Frank Martin joined the staff after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Cincinnati, first for Bob Huggins in 2004-2005 and then for [[Andy Kennedy]] in 2005-2006. He helped guide the Bearcats to a 46-21 (.686) overall record and back-to-back postseason appearances from 2004-2006. {{Reflist\|2}} ==External links== Dalonte Hill joined the staff after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the [[University of North Carolina, Charlotte]], under [[Bobby Lutz]]. In that position, he helped guide the 49ers to a 61-30 (.760) overall record and three consecutive postseason appearances from 2003-2006. Some commentators have said that Michael Beasley committed to K-State because of a tight link with Hill.{{fact}} Hill was Beasley's AAU coach. {{commons category}} * [https://wvusports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/bob-huggins/48 WVU profile] {{Navboxes ~~Brad Underwood is a native Kansan and former Kansas State University letterman.~~ \|list = {{Akron Zips men's basketball coach navbox}} {{Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball coach navbox}} {{Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball coach navbox}} {{West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball coach navbox}} {{Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}} {{Conference USA Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}} {{Big 12 Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}} {{Jim Phelan Award}} {{Sporting News Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year}} {{Basketball Hall of Fame\|state=collapsed}} {{2022 Basketball HOF}} }} {{Authority control}} ~~==Notable players==~~ [[Kenyon Martin]] [[Nick Van Exel]] [[Danny Fortson]] [[Steve Logan]] [[James White]] [[Eric Hicks]] [[Ruben Patterson]] [[Corie Blount]] [[Jason Maxiell]] {{DEFAULTSORT:Huggins, Bob}} ~~== References ==~~ [[Category:1953 births]] ~~<div class="references-small">~~ [[Category:Living people]] [http://ucbearcats.blogspot.com/2005/12/bob-huggins-full-interview.html Bob Huggins first interview after resigning from the University of Cincinnati] [[Category:Akron Zips men's basketball coaches]] ~~<references/>~~ [[Category:American men's basketball players]] ~~</div>~~ [[Category:Basketball coaches from West Virginia]] ~~{{start box}}~~ [[Category:Basketball players from West Virginia]] ~~{{succession box \| title=[[Kansas State University\|Kansas State Basketball Coach]] \| before=[[Jim Wooldridge]] \| years=2006–Present\| after=Current Coach}}~~ [[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball coaches]] {{succession box \| title=[[University of Cincinnati\|Cincinnati Basketball Coach]][http://www.cincypost.com/2001/feb/28/uctime022801.html] \| before=[[Tony Yates]] \| years=1989–2005\| after=[[Mick Cronin (Basketball Coach)\|Mick Cronin]]}} [[Category:Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball coaches]] ~~{{end box}}~~ [[Category:Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees]] ~~{{WildcatsBBCoach}}~~ [[Category:~~1953~~Ohio ~~births\|Huggins,~~Bobcats ~~Bob~~men's basketball players]] [[Category:~~American~~Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball coaches~~\|Huggins, Bob~~]] [[Category:~~Kansas~~People ~~State~~from ~~Wildcats~~Port ~~men's basketball coaches\|Huggins~~Washington, ~~Bob~~Ohio]] [[Category:Point guards]] ~~[[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball coaches\|Huggins, Bob]]~~ [[Category:~~Living~~Sportspeople ~~people\|Huggins~~from Morgantown, ~~Bob~~West Virginia]] [[Category:~~People~~UCF ~~from~~Knights ~~Ohio\|Huggins,~~men's ~~Bob~~basketball coaches]] [[Category:Walsh Cavaliers men's basketball coaches]] [[Category:West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball coaches]] [[Category:West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball players]] [[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]

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