Bob Huggins on Louisville Vacancy: ‘I Think it Fits Me Perfectly’
The Louisville Cardinals have one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the entire country, but in the years following the Rick Pitino era, they’ve never gotten back to the mountaintop.
When the once-dominant program enters the 2024-25 season, a new man will be in charge, and he’s likely to be a prominent name in the sport.
However, one former coach feels that the job is a perfect fit. The problem is, he’s likely blacklisted, and it’s not because he can’t win.
Former West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins says he’d love the chance to coach the Cardinals, but I’m not sure he’ll get it.
“I would be really excited to be there. I would want to be and do what Coach (Denny) Crum did. I’ve always had a love for Louisville, believe it or not. I love going to Louisville and playing. I love the fan base, the way they embrace the team, the way they embrace Louisville basketball,” Huggins said Wednesday, according to SI.com.
“I think it’s a great place. I think it’s something that fits me perfectly. Much like Cincinnati did when I got to Cincinnati. I mean, Cincinnati was in dire straits when I got there, and the city of Cincinnati fell in love with what we did, the way we played, who we played. We weren’t afraid. We weren’t afraid to play anybody. And I think the people that we brought into Cincinnati to play were people that ended up being NBA All-Stars, and I think they appreciated the fact that we didn’t hide from anybody. We were gonna play whoever it was. Line them up, and let’s go play. And I think that’s the mentality that Louisville people would like to see.”
It’s very likely that Huggins has coached his last game at a Division I program and perhaps at any level.
His track record on the court was good enough to land him in the Hall of Fame, but a glaring issue with alcoholism has tainted an otherwise incredible career.
Earlier this month, West Virginia mega-donor Ken Kendrick said that Huggins’ future at West Virginia was null and void, that he had no place in the lives of young men.
“He has no place in the lives of young men who deserve quality leadership,” Kendrick said. “I would wonder about the mental capacity of any leader of any university that would consider hiring [Huggins] for a coaching position. That would be more than a hard no. Instead of being in the Hall of Fame, he should be in the Hall of Shame.”
Should Huggins get the chance to coach at Louisville? You decide, and let us know what you think in the message boards!
