West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins resigned late Saturday night, effective immediately, one night after his arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence.
In an open letter posted to the school’s athletics website, Huggins said he informed the WVU brass “of my resignation and intention to retire.”
“My recent actions do not represent the values of the University or the leadership expected in this role,” Huggins’ statement read. “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 was arrested Friday night in Pittsburgh.
According to the Pittsburgh Police Department, officers observed Huggins’ black SUV blocking traffic with a flat tire and the driver’s side door open.
Huggins was directed to pull over and, after being questioned by police, was issued a standard field-sobriety test that he ultimately failed. 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.”
Huggins, 69, was then charged with DUI and released from custody.
Huggins registered a .210 blood-alcohol content following a breathalyzer test — more than two times the legal limit in Pennsylvania. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at a later date.
“West Virginia University is aware of an incident last night involving head men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins, for which he was charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in the City of Pittsburgh,” West Virginia said in a statement. “We are gathering more information and will take appropriate action once the review is complete.”
Huggins pleaded no contest to a previous DUI charge in 2004 when he was the head coach at Cincinnati.
Last month, the Hall of Fame coach received a million-dollar salary reduction and a three-game suspension to begin the 2023-24 season after he used an anti-gay slur in a radio interview.
In addition, Huggins saw his employment contract amended from a multi-year agreement to a year-by-year deal.
Huggins has since apologized for his comments.
Huggins has coached the Mountaineers since 2007. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 and is one of only six men’s coaches to reach 900 career wins.
Huggins signed a two-year extension in August 2021 that was scheduled to pay him $4.15 million for the 2023-24 season.
–Field Level Media
