Published: May 04, 2008 01:46 am      

COLUMN: New Huggins contract pleasant surprise

MORGANTOWN — That West Virginia University signed Bob Huggins to what amounts to a “lifetime contract” as head coach of its men’s basketball team bordered on shocking surprise.

It had never been done previously at the state’s highest institution of learning, and I don’t know of another college or university that offers such long-term pacts. Football legends Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden may well be exceptions, though.

It seems like they have been coaching forever at Penn State and Florida State, respectively.

After giving some thought to the unprecedented 11-year contract Huggins signed last Friday, however, I believe it was a well-conceived move by Athletic Director Ed Pastilong and WVU President Mike Garrison.

I applaud both men for working out a mutually acceptable agreement with the 54-year-old alumnus which, hopefully, will keep him at WVU until he reaches the age of 65 in 2019. Both parties admittedly are firmly committed to the deal.

This was WVU officials’ idea, and it happened to be to Huggins’ liking, too.

“We need that commitment to win the national championship,” Pastilong said. “Bobby looks healthy, and he has all that enthusiasm.”

Huggins is a well-established veteran, having coached 26 years at the NCAA Division I level. With a career record of 616-222, he ranks fifth among active coaches in total victories and owns a winning percentage of .736, which is eighth nationally.

What’s more, his average of 23.6 wins per season is incredible. He has taken teams to postseason tournaments in 23 of his 26 seasons.

In leading the Mountaineers to a 26-11 record in his first year here, the Morgantown native had to exceed the fondest expectations of every fair-minded basketball fan. Big East coaches picked WVU to finish 10th last fall.

The team actually wound up fifth in the conference, reached the semifinals of the league tournament, advanced to the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 and ranked 17th in the final ESPN/USA Today poll.

West Virginia sports writers elected him as 2007-08 state College Coach of the Year.

Huggins not only is considered an outstanding coach but one who has proved to be a great recruiter as well. His current staff includes two former head coaches.

He’s knowledgeable in areas other than athletes. The Academic All-American graduated magna cum laude from WVU in 1977 and then completed studies for a master’s in health administration.

Now Huggins appears to be comfortably set for the remainder of his life.



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In case you’re wondering, I have a firm feeling that All-Big East forward Joe Alexander will decide to withdraw his name from the NBA draft and return to WVU for his senior season.

While he has said it’s 50-50, I think from his comments that he’s leaning toward a belief that another year under Huggins would improve his chances in the 2009 NBA draft.