Bob Huggins is officially absent from West Virginia
Bob Huggins’ tenure as West Virginia coach is coming to an unfortunate and ugly end. After the DUI arrest in Pittsburgh, Huggins told his players he was quitting, as reported by Jeff Goodman of the stadium and John Rothstein of CBS Sports. Initially, WVU issued a statement that they were gathering more information. Huggins then issued his own statement.
West Virginia University has learned of an incident that occurred last night involving men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, for which he was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Pittsburgh. We are collecting more information and will take appropriate action once the review is complete. West Virginia University
Bob Huggins releases a statement about his resignation and retirement. pic.twitter.com/OFZTjn8fjT
– Jeff Goodman (GoodmanHoops) June 18, 2023
Bad scene in Pittsburgh
News of Huggins’ resignation came on the same day that his arrest was announced. According to the police report, officers discovered Huggins’ car blocking a road with the driver’s side door open and a slashed tire. Suspecting intoxication, the officers ordered Huggins to move his car to the side of the road. During a subsequent field sobriety test, Huggins failed and recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.210 on a breath analyzer. Furthermore, officers allegedly found an empty beer can in a trash bag on the passenger side deck.
Huggins second DUI
This incident marks Huggins’ second known DUI arrest, as the previous incident occurred in 2004 during his time in Cincinnati. West Virginia initially responded to the news by saying it was gathering information. However, Huggins himself later informed his team that he would no longer be coaching them.
The DUI arrest marks the second disturbing incident in Huggins’ offseason. He faced widespread criticism after using homophobic slurs during his radio appearances. In response, West Virginia suspended Huggins for three games, cut his salary by $1 million, and mandated sensitivity training. The school’s president and athletic director issued a statement at the time, emphasizing that any insulting or abusive language would result in immediate termination.
A bit of a fall from grace
Less than a year ago, Higgins was celebrated as being inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, along with notable names like Manu Ginobili and Lindsey Wallen. However, a lot has changed since then. Prior to his resignation, Huggins had the distinction of being the all-time winningest head coach in college basketball, with 935 wins at West Virginia, Kansas State, Cincinnati, Akron, and Walsh. He also led teams to two Final Four appearances and 10 conference championship titles.
Huggins has become an institution in Morgantown, but his recent actions have tarnished his reputation and undermined the goodwill he had built up over the years. Now at the age of 69, Huggins will have to overcome significant obstacles and address issues related to his past if he desires another coaching position. However, it is still uncertain if he will ever have the opportunity to do so.