West Virginia coach Bob Huggins has resigned as Mountaineers men’s basketball coach after he was arrested Friday night in Pittsburgh for driving under the influence of alcohol. Huggins, who informed the team of his impending resignation Saturday night, intends to retire.
“My recent actions do not represent the values of the University or the leadership expected in this role,” Huggins wrote. “While I have always tried to represent our University with honor, I have let all of you – and myself – down. I am solely responsible for my conduct and sincerely apologize to the University community – particularly to the student-athletes, coaches and staff in our program. I must do better, and I plan to spend the next few months focused on my health and my family so that I can be the person they deserve.”
WVU president E. Gordon Gee and athletic director Wren Baker released a joint statement on Huggins: “We support his decision so that he can focus on his health and family. On behalf of West Virginia University, we share our appreciation for his service to our University, our community and our state. During his time as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach, Coach Huggins devoted himself to his players, to our student body, to our fans and alumni and to all West Virginians. His contributions will always be a part of our history. In the days ahead, we will focus on supporting the student-athletes in our men’s basketball program and solidifying leadership for our program.”
Huggins, 69, is one of the biggest figures in college basketball with two Final Fours and more than four decades of coaching to his name. Until his ouster, he was the active leader in Division I wins (934) as his head-coaching career dated back to Walsh College in 1980. Huggins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, an achievement many in the basketball community considered long overdue, even…
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