MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Since being dismissed as the interim head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers basketball team, Josh Eilert has virtually disappeared from the public eye. However, this morning on his social media, he posted a very interesting message.
Eilert posted a video of a Word document with the title, “NO PLAYBOOK”, and the caption, “I think I might write a book….” This undoubtedly is referring to Eilert taking on a basketball team in disarray following Bob Huggins’ DUI arrest and forced resignation from West Virginia University. Despite the challenging circumstances, Eilert remained professional, and represented the university and state well.
The Mountaineers finished 9-23 season, among the worst in the history of the West Virginia basketball program, and Wren Baker released this statement to indicate that he was moving on from Eilert and hiring a new coach: “As I shared last summer following our initial coaching transition, we decided to wait until the conclusion of the 2023-24 season before embarking on a full national search. Upon our return to Morgantown from the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship, I met with Coach Eilert, the coaching staff and the team to let them know we are moving forward with our search plans. All of Mountaineer Nation owes a debt of gratitude to Coach Eilert for his leadership during a challenging season, as he and his staff faced all obstacles with class and professionalism.
We are now focused on our collective future, and I am excited about what comes next. We compete in the best men’s basketball conference in America, we have incredible fans and supporters, we have a history of success and we have a commitment to winning. I am confident we will engage a strong pool of candidates and identify the right leader for our program. As I shared with our student-athletes, we will move deliberately but as swiftly as we can in the days ahead.”
Eilert, 43, spent 16 years working under Bob Huggins as a video coordinator, assistant coach and assistant athletic director for basketball operations, and it’s unclear what his future plans are at this time.
I think I might write a book…👀 pic.twitter.com/4uVjymRS6G
— Josh Eilert (@josheilert) April 26, 2024
