West Virginia HC Bob Huggins arrested for DUI weeks after 'homophobic' comment
West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins was arrested and charged with driving under the influence on Friday night to place his future with the Mountaineers in doubt.
According to a report from a Pittsburgh Police public information officer, police saw a black SUV blocking traffic just before 8:30 pm on Friday. The vehicle allegedly had a ‘flat and shredded tire’ and the driver's side door was open.
Officers identified Huggins as the driver and instructed him to move the vehicle off the road. He then allegedly struggled to properly manouver the SUV, leading to the officers pulling him over. The 69-year-old was subsequently questioned before asked to perform field sobriety tests, which he failed.
Huggins was arrested and charged with DUI. He was released later with a preliminary hearing set for a later date. According to ESPN, his job is now in doubt.
On Saturday morning, West Virginia officials were informed about Huggins’ arrest and the school is set to make a decision over his future at the helm of the team. His arrest will undoubtedly put pressure on West Virginia, who were outraged by his recent homophobic comments and pushed back on public pressure to keep him in his role.
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This is the second controversy involving Huggins in recent weeks after he made homophobic comments during an appearance on a Cincinnati radio station. He was suspended and saw a $1million (£780,000) reduction in salary.
Bob Huggins was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022 (Getty Images)In a joint statement after Huggins' radio comments, president Gordon Gee and athletic director Wren Baker labelled the slurs ‘inexcusable’. The duo also suggested Huggins’ comments had ‘tarnished West Virginia University’.
Huggins played for the Mountaineers in college, but the point guard never made it to NBA level. He returned to his alma mater in 2007, and he has led West Virginia to 11 NCAA tournament appearances - including a Final Four spot in 2010.
Huggins - whose coaching career has spanned over 40 years - spent one season at Kansas State having coached Cincinnati to 14 straight NCAA tournament appearances from 1992 to 2005. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
Huggins apologised for his comments in a statement, admitting his language was unnacceptable. His statement read: "Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier University.
"During the conversation, I used a completely insensitive and abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for -- and I won't try to make one here. I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University.
“As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept [anything] coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better, and I will."
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