Bob Huggins, a retired American basketball coach, forged his legacy with more than four decades of coaching career. Huggins has two brothers: Larry & Harry; fans wonder if they also had careers in sports.
Nicknamed “Huggy Bear,” the 2015 Jim Phelan Award winner gained significant recognition as the head coach of the Mountaineers at West Virginia University (2007- 2023).
Throughout his coaching career, Bob recorded a win-loss record of 935-414.
Moreover, he was the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2022.
Before being a coach, Bob was a collegiate basketball player.
Having played his freshman year at Ohio State, Huggins decided to play for his home state at West Virginia from 1975 to 1977.
After his college graduation, he turned his head to coaching. From 1977 to 1978, he was a graduate assistant at his alma mater West Virginia under the head coach Joedy Gardner.
Then, Bob Huggings had coaching experience at Ohio State (assistant), Walsh, UCF (assistant), Akron Zips, Cincinnati Bearcats, and the Kansas State Wildcats.
Not to mention, his accomplishments include two NCAA regional victories (1992 & 2010), and four C-USA tournament wins (1995, 1998, 2002 & 2004).
Bob Huggins Brother: Larry & Harry Huggins
The former point guard was born to the late Charlie Huggins and Norma Huggins as one of seven children.
He has two elder brothers: Larry & Harry Huggins, and four sisters: Linda Burr, Debbie Hutson, Judy Mathias & Karen Monaco.
Bob & both his brothers used to play basketball- they were the famous trio of talented brothers in high school & college.
In an interview with Matt’s Take in September 2022, Larry Huggins shared about the competitive brotherhood since they grew up in a family with a successful career.
Larry played collegiate basketball at Ohio State University for the Buckeyes from 1979 to 1983 & was a part of 3 NCAA Tournament appearances. He played alongside the likes of Clark Kellogg and Tony Campbell.
On the other, Harry Huggins (the oldest brother) was on the varsity basketball team at Rice University & Texas Lutheran University.
Where Are They Now?
As for Bob’s brothers, rather than going for a career as a basketball coach, the two opted to become basketball camp executives.
Currently, Larry Huggins runs Eastern Ohio Basketball Camp (now EOSC Sports Complex), founded by his late father, Charles.
Moreover, according to his Twitter bio, he is the owner of a printing company named Three Leaf Solutions.
The eldest brother Harry Huggins is a health & science teacher at Indian Valley Schools (2009- now).
According to his LinkedIn profile, Harry is also the owner of basketball camp H2O Harry Huggins Basketball (2009- present).
All of the Huggins brothers are married- Harry with his wife Tracey & Larry with his wife Lori. Bob is married to June Huggins and shares two daughters: Jenna Leigh and Jacqueline Huggins.
Parents Of Huggins: Father Charles & Mother Norma
Bob Huggins’ parents were Charles Huggins & Norma Huggins- both are no more in this world.
They were married on May 24, 1952, & remained together until Norma, then 68, died of colon cancer on May 24, 2003, at Aultman Hospital in Canton.
Bob’s mother’s departure was succeeded by his father, Charles, who died at the age of 87 (b. Sept 1, 1933- d. April 20, 2021).
Both of them were devout Christians & were members of First Baptist Church in New Philadelphia.
According to the obituary, Charles was a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, where he attended Morgantown High School and excelled as a basketball player.
He graduated from Alderson-Broaddus College in 1952 & obtained his Master’s degree from West Virginia in 1962.
Charles Huggins spent 20 years as a basketball coach at Stone Creek, Strasburg, Conotton Valley, Indian Valley South, and Berlin Hiland.
Notably, he led the Indian Valley South to state titles in 1972 & 1976.
Throughout his career, he earned numerous accolades that, include 8-time honoree of Coach of the Year & 2016 Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.
On the other, his now-late wife, Norma Mae Huggins, was a housewife. She later served as a cook for the Eastern Ohio Basketball Camp in Sherrodsville, Ohio.
Bob Huggins Retirement From Coaching Career
On June 16, 2023, the West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins was arrested on the charge of DUI.
As reported, he was in an SUV that was blocking the traffic with the door ajar & empty beer bottles inside.
Moreover, his breath test read 0.21%, more than two times the legal limit of 0.08%.
It was the second time that Huggins faced a DUI arrest. Previously, he faced DUI charges on June 8, 2004, where he pleaded no contest & was fined $350.
On June 17, 2023, a day after his arrest, Bob publicly announced his resignation from the Mountaineers and retirement from his coaching career.
During his coaching career, he coached some of the top players like Herb Jones, Jason Maxiell, Steve Logan, Danny Fortson, and others.
