Longtime West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins resigned Saturday night, one day after he was charged with driving under the influence in Pittsburgh.
“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,” Huggins said in a statement.
“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.”
Huggins’ resignation abruptly ends his tenure at his alma mater after 16 seasons and caps a turbulent offseason for the 69-year-old coach.
Last month, Huggins was suspended by the school for the first three games of the 2023-24 season after using a homophobic slur multiple times during a radio interview. He had his pay reduced for the 2023-24 season by $1 million and had his contract amended from a multi-year agreement to a year-by-year agreement. He was also mandated to undergo sensitivity training.
Details of Bob Huggins’ DUI arrest
According to a police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports, Pittsburgh police say Huggins was driving a black SUV on Friday night around 8:30 p.m. when officers observed his vehicle stopped in the middle of the road blocking traffic. The driver’s side door was open and the vehicle had a flat and shredded tire.
Huggins had difficulty moving the vehicle so other vehicles could pass and when questioned, officers say they “had strong suspicion to believe the male was intoxicated.”
Huggins exited the vehicle and failed standard field sobriety tests and officers observed “empty beer cans in a white garbage bag of empty metal beer bottles. In the trunk of the vehicle was another white garbage bag of empty metal beer bottles.”
He was taken into custody and subsequently released. Officers conducted a breathalyzer test on Huggins, and he blew a .210, more than two times the legal limit in Pennsylvania.
Authorities say he will appear for a preliminary hearing at a later date.
Why Bob Huggins was suspended
In May, Huggins used a homophobic slur multiple times during an interview with a Cincinnati radio station.
He apologized for his language, which aired on 700 WLW’s “Bill Cunningham Show” after the hosts asked him about Xavier, the coach’s longtime rival when he led Cincinnati for 16 seasons (1989-2005). He referred to Xavier fans as “Catholic (expletive)” twice.
“During the conversation, I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for — and I won’t try to make one here,” Huggins said in a statement released through the university. “As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept any coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better, and I will.”
A West Virginia native, Huggins finished his collegiate playing days and began his coaching career at West Virginia. His first head coaching job was from 1980-1983 at Division II Walsh, followed by stints at Akron (1984-1989), Cincinnati, Kansas State (2006-07) and with the Mountaineers since then.
Huggins went to the Final Four twice – once with Cincinnati (1992) and again with West Virginia (2010). Prior to his resignation, Huggins was the active wins leader among all Division I coaches (935). His career record was 935-414 (.693 winning percentage).
