Bob Huggins living with progressive cognitive condition, family says ahead of Cincinnati Hall of Fame induction

Family discloses diagnosis

Bob Huggins, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach who led Cincinnati and West Virginia for more than three decades combined, is living with a progressive cognitive condition that has begun to affect his memory and aspects of his daily life, his family said on Wednesday, Oct. 21. ^{[1] [2]}

The statement was released by University of Cincinnati Athletics in coordination with the family and was also posted on the Bearcats' social media accounts, according to WV MetroNews and On3. The family did not identify the specific condition. WV MetroNews reported that the family had chosen to keep the matter private over the past several months. ^{[1] [3]}

In the statement, as reported by On3, the family said it believed this was an appropriate time to share the news with people who had supported Huggins, acknowledged challenges ahead and asked for privacy, compassion and understanding. The family said it remains focused on the moments "that bring him joy," according to WKRC Local 12 and FOX19. ^{[3] [2] [4]}

Induction goes ahead on Friday

The disclosure came two days before Huggins, 73, is scheduled to enter the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame at Cincinnati. The university announced his selection in June as the headliner of the Bearcats' 50th Hall of Fame class, with the ceremony set for Friday, Oct. 23, the night before Cincinnati's football game against Texas Tech. ^{[5] [1] [2]}

WKRC Local 12 reported that Huggins is expected to attend with his wife and two daughters and other relatives, and that the family said he is looking forward to seeing former players and friends. He will not take media questions about his health or the induction, the station reported. ^[2]

Cincinnati Athletics described him in its statement as "one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history," according to WKRC Local 12 and FOX19. The family's statement said his defining passion had always been the young men he coached and the lives he helped shape, WKRC reported. ^{[2] [4]}

A career built at two programs

Huggins coached Cincinnati from 1989 to 2005 and remains the program's all-time leader in wins with 399, according to FOX19 and On3. His Bearcats teams made 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the 1992 Final Four, FOX19 reported. On3 lists his record at the school as 399-127. ^{[4] [3]}

At West Virginia, he coached from 2007 to 2023 and won 345 games, second-most in program history, WV MetroNews reported. The Mountaineers made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances under him, including a Final Four run in 2010 and Sweet 16 berths in 2008, 2015, 2017 and 2018, according to the outlet. ^[1]

His head coaching stops also included Walsh, Akron and Kansas State. WV MetroNews and On3 put his career record at 934-415, and WV MetroNews said his 863 Division I wins rank 10th all-time. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, On3 reported. ^{[1] [3]}

Coaching tree and what comes next

Huggins' influence extends through a long list of former assistants and players who became head coaches, among them Mick Cronin, Frank Martin, Brad Underwood and Joe Mazzulla, WV MetroNews noted. Cincinnati's current men's coach, Jerrod Calhoun, served as a Huggins assistant at both West Virginia and Cincinnati and is in his first season leading the Bearcats, the outlet reported. ^[1]

The family and the university have not named the condition or released details about Huggins' care. The next scheduled event is Friday's induction ceremony in Cincinnati, which he is expected to attend without taking questions about his health, according to WKRC Local 12. ^{[1] [2]}