WVU wants complete separation from Huggins

“In no uncertain terms, the University will not accept Mr. Huggins’ revocation of his resignation, nor will it reinstate him as head coach of the men’s basketball program,” WVU Vice President and General Counsel Stephanie Taylor wrote to Huggins’ Cleveland-based attorney David Campbell.

Campbell responded by saying that Huggins would agree to his retirement but, according to Kercheval, only under specific conditions.

• Payment of $1.25 million in deferred compensation

• Payment of Huggins’ health insurance benefits through April 30, 2024

• Installation of Huggins as “emeritus head coach” for three years to fundraise and consult

• Allowing Huggins to return to his old office

• Agreeing to mutual non-disparagement between Huggins and WVU

• Agreeing to a joint statement “to publicly resolve this dispute”

The University countered that while it was willing to pay Huggins the $1.25 million owed him, it wanted to move on from Huggins in most other facets.

“Mr. Huggins now needs to respect (Interim) Coach (Josh) Eilert and the University and realize that it is in everyone’s best interest for our current and future coaches to develop the program as they see fit, free from any perception that Mr. Huggins is exhibiting any control over the program,” Taylor said in her response.

Campbell replied, according to Kercheval’s article, that “Coach Huggins is not going to sign any documents at this time due to lack of consideration, so we will have to move forward with the pay structure under the Amendment to the Employment Agreement,” wrote Huggins attorney. “We will give you advance notice of the next steps.”

What the next steps may be are still unclear, but what is clear, at least at this time, is that WVU officials want a complete separation from the Mountaineers’ former coach.