College Coach Resigns from Hall of Fame Position Following DUI Charge

A prominent figure in the world of college basketball may be retiring from the game after being apprehended on Friday night for driving under the influence. Bob Huggins of West Virginia publicly expressed regret and tendered his resignation as coach the following day, as reported by ESPN. “I take full responsibility for my actions and extend my sincere apologies to the university community—especially to the student-athletes, coaches, and staff in our program,” wrote Huggins, a 69-year-old esteemed coach in the Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition to this recent incident, he previously faced criticism for using a homophobic slur multiple times during a radio interview.

According to CNN, police discovered Huggins’ SUV blocking traffic on a street in Pittsburgh with the driver’s side door open and a flat tire. Subsequently, Huggins underwent field sobriety tests, which he failed, and his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured at 0.210, twice the legal limit. He also told the authorities that he believed he was in Columbus, Ohio, not Pittsburgh, as reported by KDKA. Huggins claimed that he remembered stopping at a Burger King in Washington, Pennsylvania, at 1:30 PM earlier that day, but had no recollection of anything afterwards.

Boasting an impressive record of 935 wins, Huggins is the third-winningest coach in Division I history, trailing only Mike Krzyzewski of Duke (1,202) and Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, according to the AP. Prior to his tenure at West Virginia, where he also studied, Huggins coached the Cincinnati Bearcats for 16 years. However, his stint at Cincinnati ended due to a previous DUI arrest. Although he pleaded no contest to the charge in 2004 and was allowed to continue coaching, the arrest ultimately played a role in his dismissal the following year. (Read more Bob Huggins stories.)