West Virginia Names Assistant Josh Eilert As Interim Head Coach

Huggins’ replacement has plenty of familiarity with the Mountaineers.

West Virginia University has found its next men’s basketball coach following Bob Huggins’ resignation and retirement. 

Instead of locking down an outside hire, the program opted to roll with an internal candidate for the 2023-24 NCAA basketball season.

The Mountaineers announced Saturday that assistant coach Josh Eilert will take over as interim head coach for the 2023-24 campaign.

"Josh Eilert is the right person to lead our men's basketball program next season," WVU Athletics Director Wren Baker said. "He has been an important part of our success, and he has displayed great integrity, work ethic and dedication. He has been involved in all facets of our program during his time on the basketball staff, and he has earned this opportunity to coach our team on an interim basis for the 2023-24 season.”

Eilert is set to replace Huggins, who had been at the helm of the program since 2007. Huggins resigned from the university and retired from coaching following a DUI arrest earlier in June. In May, he came under fire over his use of a homophobic slur during an appearance on a Cincinnati radio show. He had coached 548 games with the Mountaineers, posting a 345-203 record.

The interim role would be Eilert’s first stint in a head coaching job, though he boasts plenty of experience on WVU’s staff, having spent 15 years with the program.