Bob Huggins, the head basketball coach for West Virginia, has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Pittsburgh. Huggins, who was already on thin ice after using homophobic slurs in a podcast interview, was driving a black SUV when officers observed his vehicle stopped in the middle of the road, blocking traffic. The driver’s side door was open, and the vehicle had a flat and shredded tire. When questioned, officers reported they “had strong suspicion to believe the male was intoxicated.” Huggins failed standard field sobriety tests, and officers discovered “empty beer cans in a white garbage bag of empty metal beer bottles. In the trunk of the vehicle was another white garbage bag of empty metal beer bottles.” Huggins’ breathalyzer test revealed a .21, which is more than twice the legal limit in Pennsylvania, where the incident occurred. A preliminary hearing on the matter is scheduled for a later date.
West Virginia University’s Response
West Virginia University has issued a statement saying, “We are 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.” The school suspended Huggins for the first three games of the 2023-24 season after he used a homophobic slur several times in a podcast interview. He also had his pay reduced by $1 million for the 2023-24 season and had his contract amended from a multi-year agreement to a year-by-year agreement. Additionally, he was mandated to undergo sensitivity training.
Coach Huggins has an impressive record of 935-414 (.693) in 41 seasons as a head coach. He has had stints at Walsh College (1980-83), Akron (1984-1989), Cincinnati (1989-2005), Kansas State (2006-07), and West Virginia (2007-present). However, his latest incident has raised concerns about his future as head coach.
West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins has been charged with driving under the influence in Pittsburgh. This is not the first time Huggins has been in trouble; he was previously suspended for using homophobic slurs in a podcast interview. West Virginia University has issued a statement saying they are aware of the situation and will take appropriate action once their review is complete. Huggins’ future as head coach is uncertain.