History of Bob Huggins in Timeline
"Huggy Bear", Robert Edward Huggins, is a celebrated figure in American college basketball. His impressive coaching career spans across multiple universities, including Walsh, Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State, and West Virginia. His enduring legacy in the sport was solidified in 2022 with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
September 21, 1953: Birth of Bob Huggins
On September 21, 1953, Robert Edward Huggins, widely recognized as "Huggy Bear," was born. He would later become a prominent figure in American college basketball coaching.
1972: Ohio Player of the Year
Bob Huggins's exceptional talent in basketball was evident during his high school years. In 1972, he earned the prestigious title of Ohio Player of the Year, showcasing his skills and potential.
1975: Playing for the Mountaineers
In 1975, Bob Huggins began his collegiate basketball journey as a point guard for the West Virginia Mountaineers under coach Joedy Gardner, marking the start of his impactful association with the team.
1977: Completion of Collegiate Basketball Career
Bob Huggins concluded his time as a point guard for the West Virginia Mountaineers in 1977, having made significant contributions to the team's performance.
1977: Start of Coaching Journey at West Virginia
Bob Huggins's coaching career commenced in 1977 as a graduate assistant for the West Virginia Mountaineers under coach Joedy Gardner, setting the stage for his successful coaching trajectory.
1977: Cincinnati Bearcats' NCAA Tournament Drought
When Bob Huggins took charge as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats in 1989, the team was in the midst of a prolonged absence from the NCAA tournament, having last earned a bid in 1977.
1980: First Head Coaching Position
At the young age of 27, Bob Huggins assumed his first head coaching role at Walsh University in 1980, embarking on a new chapter in his basketball career.
1982: Walsh University's Undefeated Season
Bob Huggins orchestrated a remarkable achievement as the head coach of Walsh University in 1982, leading the team to an undefeated regular season with a perfect 30-0 record.
1983: Success at Walsh and Transition to University of Central Florida
Following a remarkable season with a 34-1 record at Walsh University in 1983, Bob Huggins took on a new challenge by becoming an assistant coach at the University of Central Florida.
1985: Head Coach at University of Akron
Bob Huggins assumed the position of head coach at the University of Akron in 1985, marking another significant milestone in his coaching career.
1989: Head Coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats
Bob Huggins's coaching career reached a pivotal point in 1989 when he was appointed as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
1992: First Elite Eight Appearance with Cincinnati
Bob Huggins guided the Cincinnati Bearcats to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in 1992, showcasing the team's growing strength under his leadership.
1992: Start of Five Consecutive Conference Tournament Wins
Bob Huggins's Cincinnati Bearcats embarked on a dominant streak in 1992, marking the beginning of five consecutive conference tournament victories.
1992: First Final Four Appearance as Coach
In 1992, Bob Huggins achieved a significant coaching milestone by leading the Cincinnati Bearcats to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
1992: Cincinnati Bearcats Reach Final Four
In 1992, Bob Huggins led the Cincinnati Bearcats to their first NCAA tournament appearance since 1977, culminating in a remarkable run to the Final Four.
1993: Second Elite Eight Appearance with Cincinnati
In 1993, Bob Huggins and the Cincinnati Bearcats continued their NCAA tournament success with another appearance in the Elite Eight, solidifying their status as a competitive force.
1995: Winning Streak Continues: Four Great Midwest Conference Titles
By 1995, Bob Huggins had led the Cincinnati Bearcats to an impressive feat, securing all four Great Midwest Conference titles from 1992 to 1995.
1996: Third Elite Eight Appearance with Cincinnati
Bob Huggins led the Cincinnati Bearcats to their third Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA tournament in 1996, further cementing his legacy as a successful coach.
1996: Conference USA Men's Basketball Tournament Victory
Bob Huggins's winning ways continued in 1996, leading the Cincinnati Bearcats to victory in the first-ever Conference USA men's basketball tournament.
1997: First Ray Meyer Award and National Coach of the Year Recognition
Bob Huggins's coaching prowess earned him widespread recognition in 1997, receiving the prestigious Ray Meyer Award as the Conference USA Coach of the Year and being named national coach of the year by Basketball Times.
1997: Duke's Sweet Sixteen Streak Begins
Duke University began a streak of consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances in the NCAA tournament in 1997.
1998: Second Ray Meyer Award and Shared National Coach of the Year Honors
In 1998, Bob Huggins received his second consecutive Ray Meyer Award and shared national coach of the year honors from The Sporting News, further solidifying his reputation as a top-tier coach.
1999: Third Consecutive Ray Meyer Award
Bob Huggins's dominance in Conference USA continued in 1999 as he earned his third consecutive Ray Meyer Award, highlighting his sustained success as a coach.
2000: C-USA Coach of the Decade
Bob Huggins's exceptional coaching throughout the 1990s in Conference USA was formally recognized with his selection as the C-USA Coach of the Decade in 2000.
2001: ESPN.com National Coach of the Year
Bob Huggins's coaching achievements garnered national attention in 2001 when he was named ESPN.com's national coach of the year.
2002: Heart Attack and Stent Implantation
In 2002, Bob Huggins suffered a heart attack and underwent surgery to implant a stent.
June 8, 2004: DUI Arrest
On June 8, 2004, Bob Huggins faced legal trouble when he was arrested for driving under the influence in Fairfax, Ohio. He ultimately pleaded no contest to the DUI charge.
August 23, 2005: Resignation and Buyout from University of Cincinnati
On August 23, 2005, Bob Huggins's time at the University of Cincinnati came to an end. UC President Nancy L. Zimpher, aiming to elevate the university's academic standing, presented Huggins with an ultimatum: resign within 24 hours and accept a $3 million buyout or face reassignment outside the athletic department. Huggins opted for the buyout.
2005: Departure from Cincinnati Bearcats
In 2005, Bob Huggins's tenure as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats came to an end.
March 23, 2006: New Beginning: Head Coach at Kansas State University
On March 23, 2006, after a year away from coaching, Bob Huggins returned to the court, accepting the head coaching position at Kansas State University.
April 5, 2007: Huggins Signs Five-Year Contract as Head Coach at West Virginia University
On April 5, 2007, Bob Huggins signed a five-year contract to become the head coach at his alma mater, West Virginia University, succeeding John Beilein.
December 22, 2007: Huggins Achieves 600th Career Win
Bob Huggins secured his 600th career victory as a coach on December 22, 2007, in a game against Canisius.
2007: Leading the Mountaineers: Head Coach at West Virginia
Bob Huggins returned to his alma mater, West Virginia University, in 2007, taking on the role of head coach for the Mountaineers.
May 18, 2008: Huggins Completes Recruiting Class with Devin Ebanks Signing
On May 18, 2008, Bob Huggins finalized his recruiting class by securing the commitment of highly-touted small forward Devin Ebanks.
2009: West Virginia Achieves Record-Breaking Season and Final Four Appearance
During the 2009-2010 season, West Virginia had a historic run, winning a school-record 31 games, clinching the Big East tournament title, reaching their second Final Four, and finishing the season ranked #3.
2009: West Virginia Reaches Big East Tournament Semifinals and NCAA Tournament First Round
In 2009, West Virginia had a successful season, reaching the semifinals of the Big East tournament and earning a #6 seed in the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the first round.
2010: Second Final Four Appearance as Coach
Bob Huggins achieved another milestone in his coaching career in 2010, guiding the West Virginia Mountaineers to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
2010: West Virginia Reaches NCAA Tournament Third Round
In the 2010-2011 season, West Virginia advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament before losing to Kentucky.
December 22, 2011: Huggins Reaches 700th Career Victory
On December 22, 2011, Bob Huggins achieved his 700th career victory as a coach by defeating Missouri State in the Las Vegas Classic.
2012: Bleacher Report Highlights Huggins' Potential for National Title
In 2012, Bleacher Report identified Bob Huggins' third season with the Mountaineers as his prime opportunity to win a national championship.
2012: West Virginia Joins Big 12 Conference
The 2012-2013 season marked West Virginia's entry into the Big 12 Conference.
2014: Introduction of "Press Virginia" Defense
Bob Huggins is credited with introducing the "Press Virginia" defense, a full-court pressing style that contributed to the team's success in the 2014-2015 season.
2016: "Press Virginia" Meets Its Match
In the 2016 NCAA tournament, West Virginia's "Press Virginia" defense was exploited by Stephen F. Austin, leading to an upset loss in the first round.
2016: Huggins Takes Responsibility for NCAA Tournament Misses
In a 2016 interview with ESPN, Bob Huggins took personal responsibility for West Virginia's failure to qualify for the NCAA tournament in the previous two seasons.
November 6, 2017: Huggins Agrees to Contract Extension with West Virginia
On November 6, 2017, West Virginia University and Bob Huggins reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension.
2017: Potential Shift Away from "Press Virginia"
Early in the 2017-2018 season, Bob Huggins hinted at a potential reduction in the use of "Press Virginia" due to changes in his roster.
2017: Cincinnati Bearcats' Graduation Rate Improvement
Following Bob Huggins's departure from Cincinnati, the men's basketball team's graduation rate showed improvement, although it remained comparatively lower than other athletic programs at the university as of 2017.
2017: Defibrillator Incident
In 2017, Bob Huggins's implanted defibrillator activated during a game against Texas. He was examined and resumed coaching afterward.
2018: West Virginia Finishes Last in Big 12, Makes Run to Conference Tournament Semifinals
Despite high preseason expectations, West Virginia finished the 2018-2019 regular season in last place in the Big 12. However, they made a surprising run to the conference tournament semifinals, upsetting higher-seeded teams along the way.
November 2020: Huggins Invites Thom Brennaman to Speak to WVU Team
Three months after Thom Brennaman's suspension for using a homophobic slur, Bob Huggins invited Brennaman to address the West Virginia men's basketball team.
March 2021: Coaching Milestone: 23 Wins Per Season Average
By March 2021, Bob Huggins achieved a significant coaching milestone, averaging an impressive 23 wins per season throughout his illustrious career.
November 18, 2021: Huggins Surpasses Bob Knight in Career Wins
On November 18, 2021, Bob Huggins achieved his 903rd career victory, surpassing Bob Knight for the most wins among Division I men's basketball coaches.
2021: Addressing Graduation Rate Criticism
In 2021, Bob Huggins addressed criticisms surrounding the graduation rates of his players during his time at Cincinnati, attributing the issue to the treatment of junior college transfers in graduation rate calculations.
2021: Option for Huggins to Step Aside or Continue Coaching
The contract extension included an option for Huggins to either step down from his coaching position or continue coaching after the 2021-2022 season.
2022: Huggins Ejected from Big 12 Tournament Game
During the 2022 Big 12 men's basketball tournament, Bob Huggins was ejected from a game against Kansas after receiving two technical fouls for disputing a call.
2022: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Induction
In 2022, Bob Huggins's remarkable contributions to basketball were formally acknowledged with his induction into the prestigious Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
2022: Option for Huggins to Continue Coaching or Transition Roles
Starting with the 2022-2023 season, Huggins had the option to either remain as head coach or explore other opportunities within the athletic department.
January 27, 2023: Bob Huggins Fish Fry
The 11th annual Bob Huggins Fish Fry took place on January 27, 2023, with a record 2,700 attendees. The event has raised over $16 million for charities, including the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment Fund and Remembering the Miners.
May 8, 2023: Huggins Makes Homophobic and Anti-Catholic Remarks
On May 8, 2023, Bob Huggins made offensive remarks, including a homophobic slur and anti-Catholic sentiment, during a radio interview, leading to significant controversy and calls for his resignation or dismissal.
June 16, 2023: DUI Arrest
On June 16, 2023, Bob Huggins was arrested in Pittsburgh for driving under the influence of alcohol. Police found him in his SUV obstructing traffic with a flat tire and empty beer containers inside the vehicle. His blood alcohol content was over twice the legal limit.
June 17, 2023: Resignation and Retirement Announcement
On June 17, 2023, Bob Huggins released a statement announcing his resignation from West Virginia University and his retirement from coaching.
July 2, 2023: Dispute Over Resignation
On July 2, 2023, Bob Huggins, through his attorney, claimed he never officially resigned from West Virginia University and threatened legal action to get his job back. WVU officials expressed confusion over the allegations.
2023: Post-Coaching Career
After leaving his coaching position at WVU in 2023, Huggins joined the radio show Full Court Press and provided commentary on March Madness television coverage.
2023: Huggins Faces Criticism for Using Homophobic Slur
Bob Huggins faced criticism in 2023 for using a homophobic slur on a live radio show, which drew comparisons to Brennaman's previous incident.
2023: End of an Era at West Virginia
Bob Huggins's time as the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers concluded in 2023.
2023: Resignation, Retirement, and Controversy
In 2023, Bob Huggins's tenure at West Virginia University came to a controversial end following a DUI arrest. Initially announcing his resignation and retirement, Huggins later disputed the resignation's validity through his lawyer and sought reinstatement.
June 2027: End Date of Huggins' Contract Extension Options
The contract extension provided Huggins with options to continue coaching or transition to a different role within the athletic department through June 2027.