Bob Huggins

Bob Huggins was inducted into the inaugural College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences Hall of Fame in 2000 and was recognized as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2011.

A native of Morgantown, W.Va., Huggins was born on Sept. 21, 1953, and grew up in Port Washington, Ohio. He began his collegiate basketball career at Ohio University before transferring to West Virginia University, where he played point guard and scored 800 career points over three seasons. He graduated magna cum laude from WVU in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and later earned a Master of Arts degree in 1978.

Huggins began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at WVU in 1977 and was named head coach at Walsh College in 1980. He went on to serve as head coach at the University of Akron, the University of Cincinnati, Kansas State University, and West Virginia University. Across 41 seasons as a head coach, he compiled a career record of 935–414, ranking among the winningest coaches in college basketball history.

During his 16 seasons at WVU, Huggins led the Mountaineers to 345 wins, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, five NCAA Sweet 16s, the 2010 NCAA Final Four, and the 2010 Big East Championship. His teams appeared in postseason play in 35 of 41 seasons, including 26 NCAA Tournaments. He averaged 22.8 wins per season and recorded 30 or more wins in three seasons. His 345 wins at WVU rank second only to Gale Catlett.

Huggins received numerous coaching honors throughout his career, including National Coach of the Year by Basketball Times (1998), Conference USA Coach of the Year, Great Midwest Conference Coach of the Year, and Ohio Valley Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.

Beyond coaching, Huggins has supported numerous charitable and community efforts, including the Bob Huggins Foundation and established the Norma Mae Huggins Cancer Research Endowment Fund in 2003 to honor his mother, who passed away from colon cancer. The endowment supports cancer research and care.