Reports emerged on Saturday evening that Bob Huggins was going to resign his position as head coach of the West Virginia University men’s basketball program.
On Saturday night, he made it official.
Huggins announced that “Today, I have submitted a letter to President Gordon Gee and Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker informing them of my resignation and intention to retire as head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia University effective immediately.”
He elaborated more on the decision with the rest of his statement, which was shared on WVUsports.com.
“My recent actions do not represent the values of the University or the leadership expected in this role. 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.
It has been the honor of my professional career to lead the men’s basketball program at my alma mater and I take great pride in our accomplishments. But I am most proud of the tremendous young men who chose to spend their formative years with us, and who have gone on to do great things with their lives.
I was born in Morgantown, graduated from West Virginia University and had the pleasure of coaching here for seventeen seasons as an assistant or head coach. It will always be my home, and I will always be a Mountaineer.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our program over the years. It has meant more to me and my family than you could ever know.”
Sincerely,
Bob Huggins
In the same release, Gee and Baker said in a joint statement that “We support his decision so that he can focus on his health and family.”
The resignation brings an end to what was a trying offseason for Huggins, even before Friday’s DUI. In May, Huggins was recorded making insulting comments toward both homosexuals and Catholics while talking about a rival school, Xavier.
Huggins first became a head coach in 1980 with Walsh. His longest runs as a coach were at Cincinnati and West Virginia, as he coached 16 years in both places.
