WVU Basketball Alumni Polled on Open Head Coach Position

WV Sports Now reached out to WVU basketball alumni on Monday for an anonymous poll regarding the vacant head coaching job. 15 former Mountaineers who were at one point with the program responded with their answers.

Let’s take a look at more context of who was polled:

• 10 former players dating back from early-2000s to 2020s
• 5 former team members (assistants, support staff, managers)
• The average amount of seasons played at WVU by the former players is 2.9
• Each person was asked, “Who should WVU hire?”

Now let’s take a look at the results.

• 73.3% (11/15) want an internal hire/promotion
• 26.7% (4/15) want an external hire

WVU assistants Ron Everhart (6) and Josh Eilert (4) led the way out of the alumni that want internal hiring. One person who wanted an internal hire didn’t pick anybody but said, “whoever they feel is best qualified.” Some that were in favor of an internal hire also were open to starting fresh next offseason with an interim serving the 2023-24 year.

The four that wanted an external hire had these answers for their next head coach of West Virginia: Andy Kennedy (2), “Darris Nichols or Jerrod Calhoun” (1), Jay Wright (1). One that explained his reasoning said, “WVU is a national championship job. Whatever that hire is, do it.”

West Virginia is looking to hire their first men’s basketball head coach since 2007 when Bob Huggins replaced John Beilein. WVU is conducting a national search while considering internal options. The current roster of 13 are in a limbo as they wait for the administration to update them on where the direction of the program is heading.

Poll: What Should WVU Do About Replacing Huggins?