Weeks after Bob Huggins introduced his resignation following a DUI arrest, an lawyer for the previous West Virginia males’s basketball coach claims he by no means formally resigned final month and stated Huggins will sue the college if he is not reinstated.
In response, the college, which introduced the hiring of longtime assistant Josh Eilert as interim coach final month, stated it won’t reinstate Huggins and can defend itself towards any “spurious allegations.”
Final month, Huggins introduced his resignation by an announcement that stated “latest actions don’t symbolize the values of the College or the management anticipated on this position” after he had been arrested in Pittsburgh for driving below the affect and registering a blood alcohol content material of 0.21%, practically 3 times the authorized restrict. The arrest got here practically six weeks after Huggins had used an anti-gay slur throughout a radio interview that prompted a three-game suspension and a $1 million discount in wage.
In keeping with paperwork launched by the college Saturday, nevertheless, Huggins’ authorized staff despatched a letter to Gordon Gee, WVU’s president, on Friday that acknowledged Huggins by no means formally resigned. The letter additionally stated Huggins entered rehab after his arrest final month and intends to return to his submit as head coach when he completes this system.
In his letter, which was obtained by ESPN, David A. Campbell, an lawyer representing Huggins, stated Huggins’ resignation correspondence with the varsity didn’t come from him however from his spouse, June Huggins. Campbell claims Huggins by no means gave WVU a “formal” resignation.
“Based mostly on press statements, it seems that WVU is taking the place that Coach Huggins voluntarily resigned and terminated the Employment Settlement prematurely of April 30, 2024 (the day his present contract was set to run out),” Campbell wrote. “Nevertheless, though the press statements purport to have resignation communications instantly from Coach Huggins to you and/or the Athletic Director, Coach Huggins has by no means communicated his resignation to you, the Athletic Director, or anybody at WVU. On the contrary, we perceive that the purported ‘resignation’ is extremely based mostly on a textual content message from Coach Huggins’ spouse.”
The college on Saturday launched an e-mail that was despatched from an account belonging to “June Huggins” — Huggins’ spouse — to athletic director Wren Baker the day the pinnacle coach introduced his resignation that stated, “Please settle for this correspondence as my formal discover of resignation as WVU Head Basketball Coach and as discover of my retirement from West Virginia College, efficient instantly.”
The college additionally stated it has had ongoing conversations with Huggins’ authorized representatives — not Campbell — in latest weeks that recommend the previous coach understood he had resigned and had even been discussing the subsequent steps of the resignation and retirement with Bob Fitzsimmons and James “Rocky” Gianola, two attorneys who’ve traditionally represented the previous West Virginia coach, as not too long ago as Friday.
“The conflicting communications and correspondence from varied counsel on Mr. Huggins’s behalf depart the College unclear as to its subsequent steps: proceed working collaboratively with Mr. Fitzsimmons on frequent resignation/retirement advantages for a former College worker and as outlined in Mr. Huggins’ contract; or reply to meritless demand letters and doable frivolous litigation introduced forth by you,” stated Stephanie D. Taylor, vice chairman and basic counsel for West Virginia, in a letter to Campbell.
In his letter to West Virginia, Campbell stated the varsity can both reinstate Huggins after a “breach of contract” or cope with a authorized battle.
“Had WVU merely waited a weekend and seemed on the (DUI) scenario with the advantage of talking with Coach Huggins, we’re assured that WVU would have chosen a unique path,” Campbell’s letter stated. “Nevertheless, no matter WVU’s causes for reaching this level, WVU is confronted with the next decisions: (1) Reinstate Coach Huggins to his Head Basketball Coach place as soon as the rehabilitation program is accomplished pursuant to the plain phrases of the Employment Settlement; or (2) stay in breach of the Employment Settlement and face litigation. The litigation won’t solely contain the breach of the Employment Settlement, but additionally WVU’s clear violation of state and federal legislation by terminating Coach Huggins with out due course of and even an interview to find out the true info, not these reported by the media.”
The college responded and stated it won’t reinstate Huggins, who received 935 video games in his profession.
“However any response, and in no unsure phrases, the College won’t settle for Mr. Huggins’ revocation of his resignation, nor will it reinstate him as head coach of the boys’s basketball program,” Taylor’s letter learn. “Furthermore, if Mr. Huggins or his counsel makes an attempt to publicly recommend that he one way or the other didn’t resign and retire from his place, please be suggested that the College will swiftly and aggressively defend itself from these spurious allegations.”
Information of Huggins’ declare and the letter from Campbell was first reported by wvmetronews.com.
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Revealed : 2023-07-09 05:38:15
