Assistant Josh Eilert picked as interim coach at West Virginia, replacing Hall of Famer Bob Huggins

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Josh Eilert, previously an assistant, steps in as interim coach for West Virginia, succeeding Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Huggins

In a flurry of activity following Bob Huggins’ resignation triggered by a DUI arrest, Josh Eilert has been appointed as the interim coach at West Virginia. The announcement comes just four months before the start of the next season’s practice.

Extensive Coverage

• Bob Huggins, West Virginia basketball coach, steps down hours post-DUI arrest

Over the past week, Wren Baker, West Virginia’s Athletic Director, has been consulting with renowned basketball personalities nationwide, which included coaches, professional basketball executives, and other trusted individuals. The goal was to identify a strong group of potential successors. “However, I realized that conducting a search in late June posed many challenges for our candidates and had the potential to disadvantage our valuable student-athletes,” stated Baker on Saturday night. Consequently, he added that a comprehensive national search would take place after the 2023-24 season.

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NCAA rules allow West Virginia players a 30-day period to enter the transfer portal. Several players appear to have taken this opportunity, although they can still decide to stay. Eilert’s appointment could be the cohesive factor that binds this upper-class heavy roster together, a roster primarily constructed via transfers.

“Josh Eilert is the ideal individual to lead our men’s basketball program in the next season,” said Baker. “His significant contribution to our success, impeccable work ethic, commitment, and integrity are commendable. Having been involved in every aspect of our program during his tenure, he is well-deserving of this chance to coach our team for the 2023-24 season.”

Eilert, 43, began his association with Huggins as a graduate assistant at Kansas State in 2006 and then followed him to West Virginia in 2007. Over the years, Eilert held various positions with the Mountaineers, such as video coordinator and director of basketball operations, before being promoted to assistant coach in July 2022.

Eilert expressed his gratitude to Wren Baker, President Gee, Rob Alsop, Steve Uryasz, and other administration members for their belief in him and the opportunity to lead the revered Mountaineer basketball program. He also thanked Coach Huggins for his mentorship since 2006 at K-State and his move to West Virginia in 2007. “Working under a Hall of Fame coach for the past 17 years has been an honour and an immense learning experience,” said Eilert.

Other names associated with the position included UAB coach and former Huggins assistant Andy Kennedy, and ex-West Virginia and Michigan coach John Beilein.

Huggins, during his tenure, had managed to recruit an impressive roster for the upcoming season, drawing in talent like Syracuse center Jesse Edwards, Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa, Manhattan guards Jose Perez and Omar Silverio, and Montana State guard RaeQuan Battle.

Huggins’ 16-year stint as West Virginia’s coach concluded with his resignation on June 17, following a DUI charge in Pittsburgh the previous day. Huggins mistakenly believed he was in Columbus, Ohio, and was found with a blood alcohol content more than double the legal limit. He has a preliminary hearing set for Aug. 3 in Pittsburgh.

In 2004, Huggins had pleaded no contest to a DUI charge when he was coaching at Cincinnati, and was subsequently fired a year later after a conflict with the school’s president and following the DUI incident.

A month prior to his resignation at West Virginia, Huggins had been suspended for three games due to an anti-gay slur and offensive remarks about Catholics during a radio interview.

Huggins, aged 69, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September of last year.

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• West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins resigns hours after drunken driving arrest: Link
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