Bock: WVU Basketball Should Embrace New Era

It’s obvious that WVU Basketball will search for a new head coach in the spring, even though the team has been operating under temporary head coach Josh Eilert this season. In June, Eilert took over the program’s reins for a year of transition during which it faced numerous challenges and setbacks.

The supporters have been speculating about who will take over as head coach of the men’s basketball team going forward; some are hoping to see Bob Huggins or John Beilein return. It’s time for West Virginia to look forward to a new era of Mountaineer basketball, despite the success Huggins and Beilein delivered to the program over the last 20 years.

Before I explain why, let me clarify that I have no doubts about Huggins’s or Beilein’s overall coaching talents. Both improved their position after their respective terms, driving WVU’s program to new heights of success. It’s simply time for folks to accept the new era and move on.

At WVU, Huggins, 70, held one of the safest jobs in the nation; the only way he could have lost it was by carrying out his specific duties for six weeks. Huggins made an anti-gay remark on a Cincinnati radio station. Whatever your thoughts about Huggins’ actions, I believe most people would agree that it is unacceptable to utter such things in the society of today. Huggins was on thin ice at the time, having received punishment from WVU. Huggins was compelled to retire after being arrested for DUI in Pittsburgh less than a month later.

Huggins appears better if you’ve seen him in the last eight months. Huggins hasn’t started drinking again, according to those close to him, which is fantastic. Huggins appears to want to return to coaching the next season as well. Simply put, I don’t think it belongs in West Virginia. Huggins’ final coaching position was supposed to be at home, but WVU had to alter their plans due to his activities from the previous summer. In their previous three Big 12 seasons, West Virginia is 15-36 (and counting), with Huggins serving as head coach in two of those campaigns. Huggins erred when he had the chance to improve the program once more with a strong transfer class.

Huggins should be celebrated for what he did at West Virginia. Sure, his departure was ugly but what he did for the basketball program and the state shouldn’t go unnoticed.