Former WVU HC Bob Huggins hosted his 12th annual Fish Fry over the weekend, raising money for cancer research. While the media was present, Huggins was asked about new West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries.
“I don’t know enough to say anything. I’m not trying to duck the question, I don’t know enough. [DeVries] called me and I tried to explain to him that now is a bad time for me,” Huggins said to WDTV 5. “Because I’ve been in southern West Virginia, I’ve been in northern West Virginia. I’ve been everywhere. I’ve been everywhere trying to help the people in the state of West Virginia. That’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to see what I can do to help the people in the state of West Virginia.”
While Huggins’ answer was unusual and was all over the place, he was honest about his call with DeVries. DeVries mentioned during his introductory press conference on March 28 that he was able to reach out and talk to former WVU head coaches about the job.
“I got a couple on the phone, exchanged some text messages. Excited to get their input on the program and the success they’ve had here,” DeVries said at the time.
DeVries was very complimentary of Huggins that day, including him in a list of the West Virginia Basketball greats along with Jerry West, ‘Hot Rod’ Hundley, John Beilein, etc.
For Huggins, he wants to get back into coaching. The Basketball Hall of Famer has upped his media coverage during the offseason. Before Louisville hired Pat Kelsey, Huggins went on the radio, advocating himself for the job. Huggins doesn’t want to leave WVU but if the right job comes calling, he has no choice.
“I think in the right situation, yeah. I don’t really want to leave West Virginia, but I don’t think I have much of a choice,” Huggins said with KDKA-TV’s Bob Pompeani last month.
West Virginia Basketball will begin a new era this upcoming season under DeVries while Huggins’ coaching future remains unknown.
More must-reads: