Cover Photo: Jay Kuntz Instagram
Morgantown, West Virginia – The West Virginia Mountaineers men’s basketball program has exceeded expectations and has been one of the real power-players in the transfer portal over the last 2 years, and although legendary head coach Bob Huggins is certainly a factor in why players chose to play for the Mountaineers, there’s someone working behind the scenes who has perhaps been even more meaningful to the team’s success.
Jay Kuntz.
Kuntz, who has spent the last 14 years with the Mountaineers, is the Director of Player Personnel/Recruiting for the team. According to the West Virginia basketball official website, “Kuntz oversees all aspects of the on and off campus recruiting process for prospective student-athletes as well as manages the NCAA Transfer Portal for coach Bob Huggins. Jay coordinates the Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) activities for men’s basketball working closely with the staff to ensure compliance with NCAA and institutional policies. Kuntz serves as the liaison between men’s basketball program and the Country Roads Trust in regard to NIL.”
In other words, Kuntz is doing all of the hard work behind the scenes that leads to success in the transfer portal and ultimately on the basketball court.
In a recent podcast interview, West Virginia’s newest player, Kerr Kriisa, regarded by many as one of the top point guards in the nation, had the following to say about he he chose the Mountaineers: “I really like them. Just the way they recruited me and I had a great visit. The facilities were amazing, I really trust them and (Bob) Huggins is a legend. And Jay Kuntz, shout out to my boy, an even bigger legend who doesn’t get enough credit so I have to give a lot of credit to him too.”
The Mountaineers are building a real force through the transfer portal and when they have a tremendously successful season next year, remember who helped put it all together.
Jay Kuntz.
