PITTSBURGH, PA — UPDATE @ 10:35 p.m.
Former University of Cincinnati coach Bob Huggins announced Saturday he will resign and retire as head men’s basketball coach in a letter to school president Gordon Gee and Athletic Director Wren Baker.
He was arrested on DUI charges in Pittsburgh Friday night.
>>West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins resigns after DUI arrest
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. My recent actions do not represent the values of the University or the leadership expected in this role. While I have always tried to represent our University with honor, I have let all of you – and myself – down. I am solely responsible for my conduct and sincerely apologize to the University community – particularly to the student-athletes, coaches, and staff in our program. I must do better, and I plan to spend the next few months focused on my health and my family so that I can be the person they deserve. It has been the honor of my professional career to lead the men’s basketball program at my alma mater and I take great pride in our accomplishments. But I am most proud of the tremendous young men who chose to spend their formative years with us, and who have gone on to do great things with their lives.I was born in Morgantown, graduated from West Virginia University, and had the pleasure of coaching here for seventeen seasons as an assistant or head coach. It will always be my home, and I will always be a Mountaineer. Thank you to everyone who has supported our program over the years. It has meant more to me and my family than you could ever know.
Gee and Baker said in a statement they were informed of Huggins’ intent to retire and he has submitted his letter of resignation.
“We have accepted it in light of recent events,” they said. “We support his decision so that he can focus on his health and family.”
Friday’s arrest comes a month after the University suspended him for three games for using an anti-gay slur while also denigrating Catholics during a radio interview, the Associated Press reported.
Huggins was previously arrested for DUI on June 8, 2004, in a Cincinnati suburb of Fairfax when he coached at the University of Cincinnati.
The police report back then said he told police he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, CNN reported in 2004.
Police said Huggins was unable to perform a field sobriety test, had slurred speech, red, watery eyes and staggered out of the car after he was stopped. The report also said there was a strong odor of alcohol and vomit on the driver’s side door.
He was fired in 2005 amid a power struggle with then UC school president Nancy Zimpher as well as the aftermath of the 2004 arrest, the AP said.
Huggins coached at UC from 1989-2005.
-INITIAL STORY-
West Virginia men’s basketball coach and former University of Cincinnati Bob Huggins was arrested on a DUI charge in Pittsburgh Friday night.
>>RELATED: West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins accused of DUI
Huggins, 69 of Morgantown, was found by Pittsburgh Police officers to be blocking traffic “in the middle of the road” just before 8:30 p.m. Friday night while driving a black SUV, according to a City of Pittsburgh Blotter report.
The door from his SUV was open and the vehicle had a flat and shredded tire.
Officers saw Huggins’ difficulty maneuvering the SUV to allow vehicles to pass and activated their lights to pull him over. They asked him to perform a sobriety test and he failed, the blotter said.
Huggins was charged with Driving Under the Influence. He was released from custody and will appear for a preliminary hearing at a later date.
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The West Virginia Athletic Department released a statement on Saturday about the incident.
“West Virginia University is aware of an incident last night involving Head Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Huggins, for which he was charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in the City of Pittsburgh. We are gathering more information and will take appropriate action once the review is complete.”
This arrest comes a month after the University suspended him for three games for using an anti-gay slur while also denigrating Catholics during a radio interview, the Associated Press reported.
Huggins was previously arrested for DUI on June 8, 2004, in a Cincinnati suburb of Fairfax when he coached at the University of Cincinnati.
The police report back then said he told police he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, CNN reported in 2004.
Police said Huggins was unable to perform a field sobriety test, had slurred speech, red, watery eyes and staggered out of the car after he was stopped. The report also said there was a strong odor of alcohol and vomit on the driver’s side door.
He was fired in 2005 amid a power struggle with then UC school president Nancy Zimpher as well as the aftermath of the 2004 arrest, the AP said.
Huggins coached at UC from 1989-2005.