Wren Baker Provides Some Clarity on Josh Eilert's Future
West Virginia University Director of Athletics, Wren Baker, announced Wednesday morning that he is officially opening a national search for the next head coach of the men's basketball program.
Interim head coach Josh Eilert was backed into a corner from the very beginning, having to assemble a team late in the summer but more adversity hit with the suspension of Kerr Kriisa, the injuries to Akok Akok and Jesse Edwards, and RaeQuan Battle and Noah Farrakhan not becoming eligible until late December.
The Mountaineers finished the 2023-24 season with a 9-23 record, winning just once since the start of February. Eilert never used the injuries, suspensions, or eligibility battles as an excuse. He continued to keep his head down, go to work, and do the best he could with the hand he was dealt.
In his announcement Wednesday morning, Baker thanked Eilert for the job he did keeping the team together and for stepping into an incredibly tough situation. He did not say whether or not Eilert will be considered for the job or if he will remain on staff as an assistant for a new head coach. He did, however, provide some clarity regarding the immediate future as Eilert, along with the rest of his staff, will remain employed through the end of April.
"We'll honor the contract with really all of our coaches. As I told them last night, this isn't a deal where there's animosity or hard feelings. Everybody's been really classy and all the meetings that we had last night went as well as could be expected. He basically told me I'll do whatever you need me to do to provide stability to ensure a smooth transition. What you would expect of him is certainly what he's been. We'll honor his contract and continue to engage him in anything that's need from the program during this interim period."
Assuming a new head coach is hired, that coach could benefit from having Eilert on staff. He's spent over a decade and a half in Morgantown and has been involved in just about every aspect of the program. Very few have a better understanding of what it takes to win at West Virginia than Eilert. However, the new guy has to do whatever is best for the program, even if that means letting Eilert walk.
