WVSports – Bob Huggins and West Virginia statements on retirement

The battle between West Virginia and former head coach Bob Huggins took the next step Monday with Huggins releasing a statement that he never submitted a resignation notice and should still be employed as the head coach. While the school responded with an outline of the events to contradict those claims.

Huggins resigned June 17 leading to a week long search that culminated in former assistant Josh Eilert being tabbed as the interim head coach for this season.

However, weeks after Huggins has attempted to claim that he never resigned and in a previous letter from counsel discussed the possibility of legal action if not remedied.

Huggins released his media statement first and it read as follows.

“The press has now seen the letter sent by my counsel setting forth my position that I never resigned from my employment as head basketball coach for West Virginia University. My attorney will address the legal issues relating to my purported resignation. I wanted to respond to WVU’s statements and set the record straight on the past two weeks.

Initially, let me say that I am 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. I voluntarily checked into a world class rehabilitation center and I intend to remain in the center until I am cleared to return to my active coaching duties.

Due to my focus on the rehabilitation, I have not been in the media or responding to WVU’s statements regarding the incident. I now understand that WVU published a statement purportedly written by me at 10:30 PM on June 17, 2023. The WVU statement provides: “Today I have submitted a letter to president Gordon Gee and Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker informing them of my resignation and intention to retire as head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia University effective immediately.” Did not draft or review WVU’s statement. This false statement was sent under my name but no signature is included. In addition, the false, unsigned statement, was accompanied by a joint statement from the president and athletics director that clearly implied that they had received this purported resignation letter from me: “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.”

I am employed by WVU pursuant to an Employment Agreement. I never submitted the notice required under the Employment Agreement to voluntarily resign. I let WVU know that I was seeking rehabilitation. However, WVU was not willing to speak with me about the Pittsburgh event nor to provide me time to obtain counsel to review my Employment Agreement. I met with my players on June 17, 2023 and 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. Most importantly, whether I was staying or not, I was encouraging the players to stay at WVU. My players come first and they need to hear my support for WVU directly from me.

Now that I have obtained counsel to review the Employment Agreement and have seen WVU’s comments about my current status, it is clear that WVU did not handle the situation appropriately. More importantly, the basketball program is in need and I have a strong desire to conclude my career as the Head Basketball Coach for the program that I love. I hope to meet with WVU in the near future to resolve this situation.”

West Virginia responded with a letter from General Counsel Stephanie Taylor that outlined the events that occurred leading up to Huggins resignation from the program.

The University outlined the steps taken with Huggins and his representation Mr. Giancola in a detailed series of bulletin points and again maintained the position that they would not accept Huggins revocation of his resignation or would reinstate him as the head basketball coach.