Bob Huggins Claims He Didn’t Resign For DUI, Demands His Position Back
According to a letter from his lawyer to the university, Bob Huggins claims he never quit as the basketball coach at West Virginia after being arrested for drunk driving and wants his job back.
Bob Huggins Claims He Didn’t Resign For DUI, Demands His Position Back
Huggins, who has been in charge of the Mountaineers since 2007, announced his resignation on June 17 after being detained for DUI.
The Mountaineers are in transition as the 2023–24 collegiate basketball season is ready to start in less than two months. Huggins and the university may end up in court, which would postpone the hiring of a new coach. Josh Eilert, an assistant coach, is now the temporary head coach.
Bob Huggins’ attorney’s full letter to #WVU pic.twitter.com/HQgN9642Y4
— The Voice of Morgantown (@voicemorgantown) July 9, 2023
Huggins “never signed a resignation letter and never communicated a resignation to anyone at WVU,” according to the letter, which was acquired by The Associated Press on Saturday. Huggins’ Cleveland-based lawyer, David A. Campbell, wrote to the institution on Friday.
If Huggins is not restored, a lawsuit is threatened in the letter. West Virginia television station MetroNews was the first to report on Huggins’ demands.
This is the statement that Bob Huggins released on June 17th — 22 days ago.
Now he's saying that he never resigned from West Virginia.
There's only one way to summarize this situation: A very sad ending to a Hall-of-Fame career. pic.twitter.com/FUuXIT7v8n
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 9, 2023
The seasoned coach recently made an allegation, nevertheless, that surprised the university administration. They declare that Bob Huggins will not be reinstated and that he has in fact formally left the program. They said he also notified his team members and players of his departure.
On June 17, according to WVU, Huggins met with his basketball team’s players and staff “to announce that he would no longer be coaching the team.”
BREAKING: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESPONDS TO BOB HUGGINS LETTER DEMANDING HE BE REINSTATED AS HEAD COACH BECAUSE HE ‘NEVER RESIGNED.’ pic.twitter.com/SN4uIEixyA
— Daniel Burbank (@DanielBurbankTV) July 9, 2023
Following Bob Huggins’ resignation, West Virginia names Josh Eilert as its temporary coach.
Huggins “clearly” expressed his intention to leave and retire in writing, the document stated, and “both parties have reasonably relied on that resignation and retirement notification in a number of ways since then.”
The university provided The AP with a copy of a notice sent by Huggins’ wife, June, that same day.
Bob Huggins if Harvey Specter was his lawyer: pic.twitter.com/7dJjCQwjuI
— Big Jay Burner (@BigJayBurner) July 7, 2023
After an hour, West Virginia’s sports director Wren Baker wrote back,
“We accept your resignation and wish you the best in retirement. We appreciate your many years of dedication to WVU.”
NEWS: Former West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins has sent a letter to the university demanding reinstatement, @HoppyKercheval reports.
Huggins claims he never resigned👀
Story: https://t.co/mrAUBkHgEL pic.twitter.com/flIslmrJWB
— On3 (@On3sports) July 9, 2023
Last September, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. His teams participated in 25 NCAA Tournaments in 41 seasons and seven times in the AP top 10 rankings.
Bob Huggins showing up for work on Monday pic.twitter.com/maKQjgWsvK
— Gamblin' Gauchos 🎙️ (@GamblinGauchos) July 9, 2023
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