Former WVU Player Defends Bob Huggins After Backlash Over Pitt Video

While some WVU fans are busy freaking out over Bob Huggins appearing in promotional video for Pitt, one of his former players is defending his old coach.

“Huggs (Bob Huggins) just supporting Jay Kuntz, and would’ve done that no matter the school he was at. He’s just supporting his guy, in my opinion,” said former Mountaineer Emmitt Matthews on social media.

Huggs just supporting Jay Kuntz, and would’ve done that no matter the school he was at. He’s just supporting his guy imo

— Emmitt Matthews Jr. (@THEDOOSKIE) October 24, 2025

In a video series to promote their upcoming season, the Pitt men’s basketball program revealed Huggins as part of the production from his trip to the Panthers’ facility.

The former WVU head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer can be seen laughing while sitting in Pitt head coach Jeff Capel’s office.

Huggins was even interviewed, taking the time to praise his former staff member and Pitt’s current general manager Jay Kuntz.

“If every coach could have a guy like Jay, it’d be a heck of a lot easier on coaches,” Huggins said.

Kuntz also expressed his admiration for Huggins, crediting him for cultivating his ability to recruit and be successful.

“This place is special, and when I took the job, Huggs had a lot to do with that.”

Bob Huggins Makes Shocking Appearance in Pitt Promotional Video Series

Obviously, seeing Huggins in a Pitt promotional video may make WVU fans feel some type of way.

But in all reality, Huggins and Kuntz have maintained a close relationship over the course of many years. Capel has also been open about his respect for Huggins as a legendary figure in the coaching profession.

Put those factors together and the fact they would invite Huggins for a visit isn’t so surprising. At the same time, Pitt recording his visit with them and using it in a video is not a coincidence either.

On Bob Huggins visiting Pitt, he’s not coaching anywhere and he has relationship with now Pitt GM @JayTKuntz. Jeff Capel also has a lot of respect for Huggins. The hatred fans have rarely extends to coaches and players in this era. That’s just the truth of the situation.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) October 24, 2025

Huggins was WVU’s head coach from 2007-23 and guided the Mountaineers to the 2010 Final Four and three Sweet 16 appearances after that. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and is one of only six Division I men’s basketball coaches to surpass 900 wins.

Huggins owns 935 career wins, which is third on the all-time wins list. He led both Cincinnati (1992) and WVU (2010) to an appearance in the Final Four. Huggins was named Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2015 and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.

As for Matthews, during his fifth season of college basketball, Matthews helped West Virginia return to the NCAA Tournament. Matthews began his career at WVU playing for three seasons before transferring to Washington for a year. Matthews returned home before re-entering the transfer portal and returning to West Virginia for his final season.

Matthews averaged 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 32 games for the Mountaineers during the 2022-23 year. The Tacoma, Wa. native shot 48 percent from the field and 31 percent from three.

Find more coverage of Bob Huggins at WV Sports Now.