Is This the End for Bob Huggins at West Virginia?

Bob Huggins is one of the most beloved people in the state of West Virginia. From what he's done on the court with the basketball program to what he's done off of it, helping raise millions of dollars to build a cancer research facility in Morgantown, he's someone West Virginians have long adored.

However, over the last month, Huggins has made some crucial, irreversible mistakes that have not only tarnished his legacy but deeply upset the people that love him and counted on him.

Last month, Huggins used a homophobic slur while on a Cincinnati radio show which sparked debate about his future in Morgantown. New athletic director Wren Baker opted to keep the Hall of Fame coach but under several conditions which required the head coach to meet with LGBTQ+ leaders from across West Virginia with guidance from the leadership of WVU's LGBTQ+ Center among several other things.

Baker also handed Huggins a three-game suspension to begin the 2023-24 season and a reduction in salary by $1 million in the amended contract.

Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, they did. Friday night, Huggins was arrested on DUI charges in Pittsburgh, the second time he's been charged with one - the previous charge prompting his exit from Cincinnati in 2004.

So, could a DUI charge lead to his exit at West Virginia as well?

In my opinion, it should. Just last month, in a joint statement from AD Wren Baker and university president E. Gordon Gee, they mentioned the following:

"We have made it explicitly clear to Coach Huggins that any incidents of similar derogatory and offensive language will result in immediate termination."

Yes, it's a different situation but it shows that he was on thin ice and had no margin for error. Walking back on that statement a month later is a bad look.

What type of message does it send to the players, other coaches, and the fans if they continue to tolerate such reckless behavior? You need someone who is fit for the job and right now, Huggins does not appear to be.

It's not an ideal time to fire a coach considering it's mid-June and many of the top coaches who were looking to take a new job are no longer available, but WVU has to do what's right for the players. I'm not sure whether West Virginia should promote from within on an interim basis or attempt to go through a coaching search late in the process.

Either way, Wren Baker will once again have a decision to make on Bob Huggins' status as the men's head basketball coach.

As for Huggins, hopefully he seeks the help that he needs.

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