West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins has resigned from his position following his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. The resignation comes after a turbulent period for Huggins, which included a suspension for using an anti-gay slur and denigrating Catholics during a radio interview.
Huggins, who is the third-winningest coach in Division I history with 935 career victories, announced his resignation in a statement to the West Virginia community. He expressed regret for his recent actions, acknowledging that he had let down the university, the student-athletes, coaches, and staff in the program. Huggins also apologized to the university community and stated his intention to focus on his health and family in the coming months.
The 69-year-old coach had a long and successful career, leading both the Cincinnati Bearcats and West Virginia Mountaineers for 16-year stints. However, both tenures ended following arrests for drinking and driving. This recent arrest marked Huggins’ second DUI charge, with the first occurring in 2004 while he was coaching at Cincinnati.
In addition to his resignation, Huggins had already faced consequences for his previous anti-gay slur incident. He was suspended for three games, received a $1 million salary reduction, and was required to undergo sensitivity training. His salary reduction was intended to support West Virginia University’s LGBTQ+ Center and other marginalized communities.
The university has not yet named a replacement for Huggins. The focus now will be on supporting the student-athletes in the men’s basketball program and finding new leadership for the team.
Photo credit – Wikimedia Commons / Jshecket~commonswiki
