Bob Huggins Biography

Bob Huggins is one of the premier college basketball coaches of all-time. “Huggy Bear”, as he is known by the fans, played college basketball at the University of West Virginia from 1975 to 1977 and got his start in coaching at his alma mater after the 1977 season.  

Upon earning his master’s degree in 1978, he joined the Ohio State University coaching staff until being named the head coach at Walsh University in 1980. At 27, he was the youngest college coach in the game at the time. During his three seasons at Walsh, he compiled 71 wins and won NAIA District 22 Coach of the Year twice.  

After leading Walsh to a 34-1 record in 1983, he earned an assistant coaching job at UCF for one season before being named the head coach at Akron in 1984. During five seasons at Akron, Huggins led his team to four 20-win seasons before taking over the program at the University of Cincinnati from 1991 to 2005.  

During that tenure, Huggins led the Bearcats to 398 wins, 14 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, two Great Midwest Conference titles, and eight Conference USA Titles. He then was the head coach at Kansas State for one season before going back home to WVU.

Huggins guided the Mountaineers program for 16 years, making 11 NCAA Tournament appearances. They went to the Final Four in his third season and had five trips to March Madness where they made it to at least the Sweet Sixteen. 

Huggins remarkable career was honored with induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.

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