What’s Next for WVU Men’s Basketball?

Jun 19, 2023

MORGANTOWN, WV—Since Men’s Head Basketball Coach Bob Huggins apparently resigned Saturday night, what’s next for West Virginia’s basketball program? Several questions need answers?

Will Athletic Director Wren Baker ask Huggins to reconsider and finish his one year contract or start looking for a replacement?

Will Huggins’ current team hang around or start looking immediately to transfer?

Thousands of Mountaineer fans are in shock and wondering what Baker and President Gee are thinking about the situation. It’s sad to see Hall of Fame coach Huggins leave under these circumstances. Let him finish his one year contract and get help for his addiction.

Indications are that Baker wants a permanent replacement not an interim coach. Will Baker pursue coaches from Huggins’ old assistants namely UAB’S Andy Kennedy or Youngstown State’s Jerrod Calhoun. Kennedy spent four seasons under Huggins at Cincinnati and was interim coach for the Bearcats after Higgins” resignation in 2005. Meanwhile Calhoun is on national radar after leading Youngstown State to a Horizon League regular season title this past season. He was a student assistant under Huggins at Cincinnati and then was on his staff at WVU for five seasons.

South Carolina State head coach Erik Martin spent 15 seasons as an assistant at West Virginia could also fall into this category.

Other names are Wake Forest’s Steve Forbes, or Mississippi State’s Chris Jans. Baker could also look at Charleston’s Pat Kelsey, Ohio’s Jeff Boals, Akron’s John Groce, Kent State’s Rob Senderoff, Toledo’s Tod Kowalczyk, Furman’s Bob Richey, and Liberty’s Ritchie McKay. Northwest Missouri State’s Ben McCollum was the most successful Division II coach. Baker was his AD in 2010-13. Even former WVU coach John Beilein is a possibility. He spent five seasons at WVU and led the Mountaineers to two Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight before leaving for Michigan.