Official: Bob Huggins to Remain at WVU, Faces Punishments

Bob Huggins is set to remain the head men’s basketball coach at WVU, the university announced on Wednesday. Huggins will face a three-game suspension and a $1 million reduction to his contracted salary. Huggins will also undergo sensitivity training, working with the LGBTQ community.

Huggins’ current contract has also been amended from a multi-year agreement to a year-by-year agreement that will begin on May 10, 2023, and end on April 30, 2024.

West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee and Director of Athletics Wren Baker made it official with a letter addressing the situation.

Statement from President E. Gordon Gee and Director of Athletics Wren Baker.https://t.co/6GD7Vxi9iR

— WVU Sports (@WVUSports) May 10, 2023

Huggins made headlines on Monday when using an anti-gay slur twice towards Xavier fans on a Cincinnati radio show. The context was referring to the Crosstown Shootout, a rivalry between Cincinnati and Xavier. Huggins coached in that game from 1989-2005 with the Bearcats.

With the three-game suspension, Huggins will return to the sidelines on Nov. 20 in the Fort Myers Tip-Off event.

Huggins, who has coached West Virginia for 16 seasons, has led the Mountaineers to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. Huggins coached WVU to their second Final Four appearance in school history back in 2010. Huggins is third all-time on the college basketball wins list with 934 victories. Huggins was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.