CBS Sports anticipates 2023-24 will be Bob Huggins' last season at West Virginia

West Virginia head basketball coach Bob Huggins put his coaching future in jeopardy after making some troublesome comments on a recent radio call-in appearance in Cincinnati. While on Bill Cunningham’s WLW radio show Monday, Huggins uttered a homophobic slur when talking about Xavier‘s fans.

The Hall of Fame coach has since apologized and WVU has issued a statement. West Virginia has handed down a three-game suspension, a $1 million salary reduction, and sensitivity training for Huggins as they finalize the details of his upcoming contract. But CBS Sports college basketball analyst Matt Lorlander believes the writing is already on the wall for Huggins.

“I anticipate that this will be the last season for Bob Huggins at West Virginia, I thought that was the case before this even happened,” Norlander said.

Huggins is about to enter his 17th season with the Mountaineers and 42nd season overall as a collegiate head coach. He led West Virginia to an NCAA Tournament appearance after starting off their conference schedule 0-5, and also obtained an impressive set of transfer portal additions to his team this offseason.

But after his most recent incident paired with his age, Huggins’ long term future with the West Virginia program is certainly in question.

“My understanding was that somewhat quietly this would indeed be Huggins’ final season as they made the transition, as the Hall of Famer set to turn 70, I think this incident only reinforces that to be the likelihood come next April,” Norlander said.

On his radio appearance, Huggins referred to Xavier’s fans as “Catholic f***”, a fanbase he’s familiar with from his head coaching days at Cincinnati where they’d face Xavier in the annual Crosstown Shootout rivalry game.

Shortly after making the remarks, Huggins issued the statement below regarding the incident.

“Earlier today on a Cincinnati radio program, I was asked about the rivalry between my former employer, the University of Cincinnati, and its crosstown rival, Xavier University,” the statement read. “During the conversation, I used a completely abhorrent phrase that there is simply no excuse for — and I won’t try to make one here. I deeply apologize to the individuals I have offended, as well as to the Xavier University community, the University of Cincinnati and West Virginia University. As I have shared with my players over my 40 years of coaching, there are consequences for our words and actions, and I will fully accept any coming my way. I am ashamed and embarrassed and heartbroken for those I have hurt. I must do better and I will.”