Huggins Resigns at KSU to go to West Virginia

[transfer2BGSU]

Huggins resigns at Kansas State to take WVU job
Associated Press

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Bob Huggins is going home to West Virginia.

After one season at Kansas State, Huggins resigned to become the men's basketball coach at West Virginia.

"This is a tough day for the entire K-State nation," athletic director Tim Weiser said in a statement Thursday. "Bob Huggins did a terrific job during his short tenure to put Kansas State back on the basketball map, and we appreciate his efforts. It's a shame that he has decided not to finish the job he started here."

Huggins replaces John Beilein, who left the Mountaineers to take the Michigan job Tuesday.

Before arriving at Kansas State, Huggins coached for 16 seasons at Cincinnati, leading the Bearcats to 14 consecutive NCAA tournaments and one Final Four. He stayed on despite a massive heart attack in 2003 -- missing only two weeks before returning to the team -- but couldn't overcome other issues.

His arrest and conviction for drunken driving in 2004 upset president Nancy Zimpher, and he was forced to resign over issues that included players' arrests, suspensions and low graduation rates.

Huggins was out of coaching for a year before he was hired at Kansas State.

Huggins' move wasn't the only big news in college basketball Thursday. Earlier, coach Billy Donovan said he was staying at Florida, but four of his star players -- Corey Brewer, Taurean Green, Al Horford and Joakim Noah -- were leaving early for the NBA.

Huggins was born in Morgantown, W.Va., although he grew up in Ohio. He played his last two college seasons for the Mountaineers and holds bachelor's and master's degrees from West Virginia, where he was a graduate assistant for the 1977-78 season.

Huggins' contract requires him to pay Kansas State $100,000 for leaving early.

Five years ago, he turned down a chance to go home, electing to stay at Cincinnati when the West Virginia job came open.

Kansas State went 23-12 this season, two wins shy of the school single-season record for victories. The Wildcats were 10-6 in the Big 12, their best finish since the conference formed in 1996. Still, they did not make the NCAA tournament, settling instead for a NIT bid.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2827212

[BGFalconfromCincy]

West Virginia's next trip to UC should be interesting

[San Diego Falcon]

West Virginia's next trip to UC should be interesting

Let's hope Huggins isn't driving the bus.