MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Following a 9-23 season, among the worst in the history of the West Virginia basketball program, Josh Eilert has been dismissed as the interim head coach of the team.
Eilert, 43, spent 16 years working under Bob Huggins as a video coordinator, assistant coach and assistant athletic director for basketball operations, and was put into an extremely difficult situation after Huggins was arrested for a DUI and forced to resign as head coach prior to the start of the season.
Eilert faced tremendous adversity during his one season as interim head coach with multiple players transferring, injuries and player suspensions, but he handled it with class and integrity, and he should be commended for that.
With that said, West Virginia director of athletics, Wren Baker, will now officially begin his search for the team’s next head coach. Candidates considered to be early favorites for the position: Mark Byington (James Madison), Darian DeVries (Drake), Dusty May (Florida Atlantic), Pat Kelsey (College of Charleston), Dustin Kerns (Applachian State), Niko Medved (Colorado State) and Chris Mack (former Xavier/Louisville head coach).
Wren Baker made the following announcement on social media moments ago:
“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.”
Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker has announced the beginning of a national search for a new head men’s basketball coach.
🔗 https://t.co/QWjb7cgPJF#HailWV pic.twitter.com/k6wawPg6Nz
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) March 13, 2024
