The state of affairs in Morgantown has gotten ugly and complicated
In June, there was a collection of conflicting statements relating to the resignation of Bob Huggins as the lads’s basketball coach at West Virginia College. Initially, an announcement was printed by West Virginia asserting Huggins’ resignation, following his arrest on suspicion of DUI.
Bob Huggins is claiming he by no means signed a resignation letter and by no means communicated a resignation to anybody at West Virginia.
He’s demanding WVU reinstate him, or else he’ll sue.
A letter from Huggins’ authorized workforce to WVU’s president says Huggins’ resignation was “extremely… pic.twitter.com/zKFyc4GegS
— The Sporting Information (@sportingnews) July 9, 2023
Nevertheless, Huggins is now claiming that he by no means resigned and is threatening authorized motion if he’s not reinstated. Right here is Huggins Assertion:
“At this time, I’ve submitted a letter to President Gordon Gee and Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker informing them of my resignation and intention to retire as head males’s basketball coach at West Virginia College efficient instantly. My latest actions don’t symbolize the values of the College or the management anticipated on this position. Whereas I’ve all the time tried to symbolize our College with honor, I’ve let all of you – and myself – down. I’m solely accountable for my conduct and sincerely apologize to the College group – significantly to the student-athletes, coaches and workers in our program. I need to do higher, and I plan to spend the following few months targeted on my well being and my household in order that I could be the particular person they deserve.”
Conflicting Studies From Each Sides
Huggins’ legal professional, David A. Campbell, acknowledged in a letter that Huggins didn’t talk his resignation to the college president or athletic director. Campbell additionally contested the validity of the resignation letter, stating that it was primarily based on a textual content message from Huggins’ spouse and {that a} written resignation ought to have been despatched through registered or licensed mail.
Campbell argued that the general public feedback made by West Virginia relating to Huggins’ resignation had been false and an try to treatment the college’s breach of the employment settlement. He additionally talked about that the DUI incident in Pittsburgh was near being resolved with out fees and emphasised Huggins’ pursuit of rehabilitation.
West Virginia’s Vice President Responds
In response, West Virginia’s vp and normal counsel, Stephanie D. Taylor, disputed Campbell’s claims, stating that the letter contained utterly factually inaccurate info. Taylor supplied particulars of conferences and communications between the college and Huggins’ attorneys, asserting that Huggins had certainly resigned and retired. She expressed confusion concerning the illustration of Huggins and talked about discussions about his advantages as a part of the resignation and retirement course of.
“In gentle of all of this, we’d like affirmation, substantiated in a dependable writing, as to who’s representing Mr. Huggins and what his present authorized place is with respect to the College. If Mr. Huggins is someway now sustaining that he didn’t resign after discussions together with his legal professional on June 16-17, then we’d ask that whoever is taking that place on his behalf to do their due diligence earlier than asserting a place that’s clearly opposite to the documented proof.”
The state of affairs stays contentious, with Huggins threatening authorized motion whereas West Virginia stands by its assertion that Huggins won’t be reinstated because the workforce’s coach.