Bob Huggins resigns as West Virginia coach in wake of arrest

Bob Huggins has resigned as West Virginia’s men’s basketball coach in the wake of his arrest Friday night for allegedly driving under the influence.

Huggins announced his resignation in a statement released Saturday night in which he said “my recent actions do not represent the values of the University or the leadership expected in this role … I have let all of you — and myself — down.”

The resignation of Huggins, 69, could mark the end of a Hall of Fame career for one of the sport’s most successful and divisive coaches. Huggins won 935 college basketball games, coached in 26 NCAA tournaments and two Final Fours. In 16 seasons at WVU, he went 345-203. But his final months at his alma mater were steeped in such controversy that no path toward him continuing to coach there existed. Huggins said in his statement that he’s going to focus on his health and his family.

“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,” Huggins wrote in his statement.

Huggins informed his team of his decision late Saturday, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, and let the university know of his resignation soon after.

West Virginia is expected to conduct a national search for the school’s next coach, sources said, although internal candidates will be considered. Huggins’ resignation leaves the current roster in a dilemma, as he recruited a transfer portal class considered among the best in the country.

This decision gives those players the opportunity to potentially leave for another school. WVU athletic director Wren Baker’s best ally in the search will be the same NIL financial opportunities from the Country Roads Collective that allowed WVU to lure such a robust transfer class, as coaches increasingly are prioritizing schools with the NIL infrastructure to consistently assemble high-end rosters. Huggins was arrested in Pittsburgh after police observed a black SUV blocking traffic just before 8:30 p.m. Friday. The vehicle had a “flat and shredded tire” and the driver’s side door was open.

After directing the driver — identified as Huggins, of Morgantown, West Virginia — to move the vehicle off the road, officers observed Huggins having trouble maneuvering the SUV and pulled him over. The officers questioned Huggins and, believing he was intoxicated, asked him to perform field sobriety tests, which he failed.

According to the police report, a breath test determined that Huggins’ blood alcohol content was 0.21%, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08% in Pennsylvania. A blood sample also was taken from Huggins at a hospital prior to his release.

The arrest came just six weeks after Huggins used an anti-gay slur…