Bob Huggins Opens Up About Past Year, Talks Coaching Future

Former WVU HC Bob Huggins was featured on KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh’s CBS station, on Monday night, talking about his last year and his future with Bob Pompeani. Huggins wants to get back into coaching and knows it will have to be at a school that’s not his alma mater.

“I think in the right situation, yeah. I don’t really want to leave West Virginia, but I don’t think I have much of a choice,” he said with Pompeani.

Huggins believes he could have another chance with WVU if one thing happens.

“If there’s a change in leadership,” Huggins added.

Huggins had an embarrassing summer in 2023, saying an anti-gay slur over a Cincinnati radio station, which got him suspended and a modified contract. Just five weeks later, Huggins was arrested for driving under the influence in Pittsburgh.

Following his resignation, Huggins went to rehab.

“I thought it was something that I needed to do to continue doing what I loved doing,” Huggins said.

“I’ve always been a guy on the other side, helping people get to where they want to go. And so it was different for me when I had people trying to help me.”

Huggins says he hasn’t had a drink of  alcohol in over 300 days, while also debunking the belief that he’s an alcoholic. Huggins claims he was a social drinker and didn’t rely on alcohol.

The Basketball Hall of Famer wants to get back into coaching and emphasizes there won’t be a “third strike” for him.

“There won’t be. I can pretty much make myself do what I really want to do,” Huggins said.

All Huggins wants to do is get back into coaching, helping college-aged kids grow as basketball players and people.

Huggins is 70 years old and has 935 career wins, which is third on the all-time wins list amongst coaches. He also led both Cincinnati (1992) and WVU (2010) to an appearance in the Final Four. Huggins was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.