The End is Coming for Bob Huggins as Head Coach of the Mountaineers

Morgantown, West Virginia – Bob Huggins deserves to remain as the Head Coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers for as long as he wishes.  One of the very best to ever roam the sidelines, Huggins will be given the power to make the decision to retire when he’s ready to step down.

Next year, following the 2021-2022 season, Huggins’ contract allows him to continue to coach or take a position within the athletics department.  According to a press release by West Virginia University, “Under the agreement, following the 2021-22 season, Huggins will assume a five-year Emeritus status within the WVU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, which concludes June 30, 2027.

He will be involved in public relations and development activities in addition to other duties assigned at that time by the Director of Athletics. Huggins could defer his term of Emeritus status and continue to serve as head coach beyond 2021-22 with a mutual agreement between Huggins and the Director.”

Following next season, Bob Huggins will be 68 years old.  Although several coaches have coached well into their late sixties, early seventies, Huggins is not in the superior physical condition in takes to continue for much longer.

In addition, according to people close to the legendary head coach, the Oscar Tshiebwe situation was very hard for Huggins to deal with. College basketball is a shady, ugly business, and Bob Huggins refuses to stoop to the level of the ugliness required to win big in the sport.

John Calipari is willing to go there.  Calipari is willing to turn his back on a decades-long friendship for a chance at a player with incredible athleticism and motor like Oscar Tshiebwe.  Bob Huggins just isn’t.  He’s either too principled or too classy to toe the line of ethical and unethical behavior like many college coaches do today.

Huggins, who currently sits at 890 wins in his career, will almost certainly pass 900 wins this season and could potentially pass Roy Williams and Bob Knight.  Only Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim are likely out of reach for Huggins.

Although a national championship is the fitting, ideal end for Huggins, it’s not necessary for him to have a truly remarkable, Hall of Fame-worthy career.  Bob Huggins has nothing left to prove.

A cushy position in the athletic department where he can oversee the team and add valuable insight seems like a perfect fit for the aging Huggins.

Expect Huggins to coach this season, to use next year as a “farewell season” with fans back in the stands, and then spend five years in the athletic department before officially retiring in 2027.

Bob Huggins will go down as one of the most important figures in college basketball history, and his legacy at West Virginia will be unrivaled.