Up Close with the Pittsburgh Sports Report
Bob Huggins

On April 5, 2007, Bob Huggins accepted an offer to return to coach his Alma Mater West Virginia University. Huggins previously held the head coaching positions at the University of Cincinnati (1989-2005) and Kansas State University (2006-2007). His 590-211 record (.737) during his 25 seasons as a head coach ranks him eighth in winning percentage and seventh in victories among active Division I coaches. Huggins has been to 15 total NCAA tournaments, including 14 of the last 15 seasons. He has averaged 23.6 wins per season, including 25.6 his last 15 years. PSR's George Von Benko got up close with Huggins.

PSR:West Virginia was your dream job. This is sort of like a dream come true for you isn't it?

BH:Yeah it is. It was the hardest thing leaving Kansas State and the people there and the players we recruited, but this is my last chance to be able to come home and coach at my Alma Mater and be around friends and family that I love. It's worked out terrific.

PSR:Some media were critical of you for leaving Kansas State. But as you've said you didn't leave them in bad shape.

BH:We left the whole staff and we left the best recruiting class in the country and they've got an all-school Nike deal that they didn't have before. The program is in good hands and it's on solid footing because they do have players. Good players draw other good players. They're going to be a factor in the Big 12 for years to come.

PSR:Are you pleased with the staff you were able to put together at WVU?

BH:I'm elated with the staff. I don't know that we could've done any better. They are doing a terrific job. We're a little bit behind and we're trying to catch up. A little bit behind in recruiting and we're trying to catch up. As I think everybody realizes we need size.

PSR:You had the heart attack a few years ago -- are you in good shape physically.

BH:I'm doing great. You have to be in this business - it never ends. The travel, the recruiting… but I'm doing great. I feel great and I feel strong and ready to go.

PSR:Do you feel you have a good support system in place at WVU?

BH:I don't think there's any doubt. Ed Pastilong has been probably the most successful athletic director in the history of the Big East and he knows what he's doing, so I feel like we're in great hands.

PSR:What about this year's team. Your thoughts on what you have to work with?

BH:Losing Frank Young is a huge blow. Frank made 117 three's, a school record, and just played better and better for them as the season went along. Losing him to graduation and losing a starting center, I think those things hurt. But I think our other guys are better and I think they're stronger and they're a year more experienced. Da'Sean Butler had a great freshman year and I think Wellington Smith is going to have a great sophomore year. We just don't have size - we're just so small and we're not very deep. The guys that we have I think are quality players.

PSR:The Big East has developed into a monster basketball league, hasn't it?

BH:It's kind of an unbelievable football conference as well. I think when you have the athletic programs that you have in the Big East, and certainly when you have Mike Tranghese as your commissioner, good things are going to happen. It's a great league - it's not just a great basketball league, but it's a great sports league.

PSR:You played at WVU so you know about rivalries. It's going to be fun tangling with your old friend Ron Everhart at Duquesne and matching up with Pitt, isn't it?

BH:I don't think there's any question. We've got to a better job with our rivalry with Marshall as well. I think that certainly our fans realize the great history and rivalry with Duquesne, Pitt and now Marshall. It's challenging, but that's the way it's supposed to be. Hopefully I'm past the point of in my career, if I ever had that point, where you have to schedule wins. I want to schedule games that are challenging and fun to play and to watch.

PSR:Are you happy with the game of college basketball and the rules, or does it need some tinkering?

BH:I think we've tinkered with it too much to be honest with you. It's a great game. When CBS pays the NCAA what they pay the NCAA to get the rights to televise college basketball, things are pretty good. The game has changed because of what has happened. The game has changed because of kids leaving early, the game changed again when the NBA said that you had to stay one year in college. The game continues to change, but the game continues to flourish. I think we're in great shape.

PSR:You told me that you firmly believe that given the right amount of support, you can be a national power and challenge for a national championship at West Virginia.

BH:I don't think there's any question. It's a great place and a great college town and it's an unbelievable atmosphere. The place seats 14,000 and we need to upgrade the facilities. It's got everything that I think it takes. We're close to metropolitan areas where we can get players. People have been terrific. I certainly feel that way.