In statement, Bob Huggins denies he resigned as WVU coach, says program is 'in need'

Bob Huggins, the hall of fame West Virginia basketball coach who was replaced after a DUI arrest June 16 in Pittsburgh, has denied writing a statement that was released the next day by the university under his name.

“The false statement was sent under my name, but no signature is included,” Huggins said Monday night in a statement released to the media. “In addition, the false, unsigned statement was accompanied by a joint statement from the (West Virginia) President (E. Gordon Gee) and athletic director (Wren Baker).”

Bob Huggins has released a statement: pic.twitter.com/Qycv8RRydO

— Ethan Bock (@ethanbock_) July 10, 2023

That statement from Gee and Baker said, “Coach Huggins informed us of his intent to retire and has submitted his letter of resignation, and we have accepted it in light of recent events. We support his decision so that he can focus on his health and family.”

Subsequently, WVU hired long-time Mountaineers assistant coach Josh Eilert to replace Huggins. But in the Monday statement, Huggins said, “I am employed by WVU pursuant to an Employment Agreement.”

He said he never submitted the notice required under the agreement to voluntarily resign.

“I have to meet with WVU in the near future to resolve this situation,” Huggins wrote.

Huggins’ lawyers wrote a letter to WVU over the weekend demanding the coach’s reinstatement.

Further, Huggins said Monday that he is “truly sorry for the mistake that I made in Pittsburgh. I have taken responsibility for the mistake and have taken a course to verify that such a mistake will not occur in the future.”

In his letter, there was no mention of the homophobic remarks he made in May on a Cincinnati radio station that resulted in West Virginia suspending Huggins for the first three games of the season and a $1 million salary reduction.

In the meantime, he said he voluntarily checked into a “world-class rehabilitation center” with the intent of eventually returning to coaching.

“I intend to remain in the center until I am cleared to return to my active coaching duties,” he said in the statement.

Huggins added that the WVU basketball program is “in need,” and he has “a strong desire to conclude my career as the Head Basketball Coach for the program that I love.”

Huggins said he met with his players June 17 “to let them know the truth – that I did not know what would happen to me, but that if I was not their coach, I was hoping that I would be replaced by a coach that I recommended to WVU.”

He also said he encouraged the players to stay at WVU, but since then some have opted to transfer.

In letter responding to Huggins’ demands, WVU vice president and general counsel Stephanie D. Taylor called the positions of the former coach and his lawyers “meritless.”

The letter, obtained by West Virginia MetroNews, expressed WVU’s willingness to meet with Huggins lawyer David Campbell.

“I am certainly willing to have a conversation with you,” Taylor wrote, “as I have previously done with Mr. Huggins’ other lawyers. But let me again restate the obvious: the University will not accept Mr. Huggins’ attempted revocation of his resignation, nor will it reinstate him as head coach of the men’s basketball program. That said, please provide in writing a detailed version of your proposal for an ‘amicable resolution’ before we schedule a call.”