Bob Huggins (official thread)

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by Thump

Really? I know he grew up in Gnadenhutten, Ohio and played at Indian Valley South.

born in gnadenhutten, he also was an assitant at theOSU for two years under miller.

[Thump]

Originally Posted by jimotis4heisman

born in gnadenhutten, he also was an assitant at theOSU for two years under miller.

That's what I thought, thanks for the clarification.

[Catfish Biff's]

Originally Posted by Thump

Really? I know he grew up in Gnadenhutten, Ohio and played at Indian Valley South.

Huggins was born in Morgantown but grew up in Ohio. I posted his actual place of birth to make the Huggins-to-WVU connection. Gnadenhutten is his "hometown."

[Thump]

Originally Posted by Catfish Biff's

Huggins was born in Morgantown but grew up in Ohio. I posted his actual place of birth to make the Huggins-to-WVU connection. Gnadenhutten is his "hometown."

Thanks for correcting us Biff, you are indeed right.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by Catfish Biff's

Huggins was born in Morgantown but grew up in Ohio. I posted his actual place of birth to make the Huggins-to-WVU connection. Gnadenhutten is his "hometown."

he graduated from wvu...

[Thump]

Originally Posted by jimotis4heisman

he graduated from wvu...

He mentioned earlier in the thread that Huggins graduated from WVU.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Canton

2/15/06

Ex-coach inspires Walsh to win

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

By Andy Call REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

View more photos
BOB HUGGINS

NORTH CANTON - Bob Huggins hasn’t forgotten what to say to get a team ready for a game.
The former Walsh University men’s basketball coach was honored at halftime of Tuesday’s game against Ohio Dominican. Walsh Head Coach Jeff Young invited Huggins to speak to his team before the game began.
“I’m thinking about getting him back here to talk to them again Thursday, and maybe Saturday too,” Young said after the Cavaliers rolled to a 92-61 victory.
Huggins, who coached Walsh from 1980-83, is between jobs right now. While that may be unfortunate, both Walsh and the University of Akron have taken the opportunity to honor their former coach this winter. His career record at those two schools and Cincinnati is 567-199 with two losing seasons in 24 years, none in the last 20.
“People at Walsh and Akron have always been supportive,” Huggins said. “This was great tonight. I had a wonderful time here.”
Huggins told the crowd, “My wife, June, says all the time that our years at Walsh were the best time of our lives.”
When Huggins was hired in 1980, the Cavs had compiled losing records 14 times in the previous 16 years. Since Huggins was hired, Walsh has had 23 winning seasons in 25 years.
“You were only here three years, but you created a legacy that has lasted until today,” Walsh President Richard Jusseaume told Huggins.
North Canton Mayor David Held proclaimed Tuesday “Bob Huggins Day.” Huggins was presented a clear trophy with the slogan “Once a Cavalier, Always a Cavalier” as well as an oversized picture of his 1982-83 team that finished 34-1.
That team didn’t win the NAIA national championship, but Huggins played a key role for the 2004-05 team that did. It was Huggins who suggested to troubled post man Robert Whaley that he transfer from Cincinnati to Walsh. Whaley took that advice, turned his life in a positive direction, and was named NAIA Player of the Year while leading the Cavs to the title.
“It wouldn’t have happened without Coach Huggins,” Young said.
Whaley has moved on to the NBA’s Utah Jazz, but there’s obviously still plenty of talent in the cupboard. Walsh (22-6 overall, 13-3 American Mideast Conference) needs just one victory in its final two games to clinch the South Division title and a second consecutive berth in the NAIA national tournament.
When starting center Eder Araujo was saddled with early foul trouble Tuesday, Derek Chappell took over. The 6-foot-4 junior scored a career-high 27 points on 12-for-16 shooting.
“I don’t know what possessed me to go right at the defense like that,” Chappell said. “I do know that, if the guards hit their shots, it really opens up the middle for us.”
The guards did, of course. Corey Jones scored 16 points. Brandon Weems added 11. Point guard Jason Hicks had 12 points, 15 assists and six rebounds.
“I’ve really got to start going after more rebounds,” Hicks joked.
Araujo added 12 points in 12 minutes for Walsh, which led 21-7 after six minutes and by as many as 33 in the second half. During a nine-minute stretch of the second half, the Cavs scored via a 3-point goal or a three-point play nine consecutive times. Haze Massey led Ohio Dominican (12-14, 7-10) with 11 points. “Rob Whaley used to call Coach Huggins at 1 a.m. to tell him about our games,” Chappell recalled. “He was a like a father figure to Rob, and we all learned a lot of respect for Coach Huggins. Today was the first time for most of us to meet him, but I already knew he was a good coach who cared about his players. And we all know about his legacy here.”

[indianacane02]

FWIW, the hot rumor or theory about Bob is that he may be going to Pitt. Arizona State will more than likely have a job opening. Jamie Dixon has western ties and he is allegedly ASU's #1 target for a coach. If he goes, then Bob may have a chance for the Pitt job. He has many Pittsburgh connections. Just a thought.