By Bill Koch
Enquirer staff writer

University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins will show up for work this morning sporting a crew cut and a few pounds lighter, eager to get back to the program he built into a perennial Top 25 power over the past 15 years.

"He seems to be in great spirits and excited about returning," said UC athletic director Bob Goin. "I think he's energized. How this thing is going to unfold is in the future.

"I think he needed some rest. I think he needed to sit back and reflect on the direction he was going, like all of us need to do once in awhile. He's had the opportunity to do that. Now, we'll take a look and see."

Huggins, 50, was suspended by the school June 12 following his June 8 arrest for driving under the influence in Fairfax. He pleaded no contest to the charges June 15 in Fairfax Mayor's Court. He underwent a three-day, two-night driver intervention program, paid a $350 fine, has had his driving privileges suspended for six months and was put on probation for one year.

Satisfied that Huggins "was ready to resume the responsibilities demanded of him," Goin announced July 15, with the approval of UC president Nancy Zimpher, that Huggins would return to work Aug. 27. His suspension has lasted 76 days.

During that time, Huggins did a lot of fishing and spent some time at a family-owned condo in Florida.

He missed both summer recruiting evaluation periods, but his return will allow him to participate in the crucial recruiting contact period, which begins Sept. 9 and runs through Oct. 5. Practice begins Oct. 16.

How much his suspension has hurt UC's recruiting efforts as the Bearcats prepare for next year's entry into the Big East Conference and how much it has hurt the program's image remains to be seen.

"I would be premature to judge that one way or another," Goin said. "I think time will tell. I believe that if we had a foundation for 15 years, it's not like shifting sand. I'm hopeful that the foundation is strong enough that we can weather this and move forward."

Former UC great Oscar Robertson was named interim coach in Huggins' absence after associate head coach Dan Peters, who was originally named to the interim post, left for Ohio State.

Robertson met periodically with the UC players, but the task of maintaining UC's recruiting efforts fell to recruiting coordinator Andy Kennedy and assistant coach Keith LeGree.

"It's been difficult," Kennedy said, "just in numbers. We're down a very valuable part of the equation. When Dan left in July, we were down another part of the equation. We've gone from four people working every day to two. That's not easy to overcome, but we've dealt with it."

Kennedy and LeGree both said other schools have used Huggins' suspension against UC during recruiting.

"Maybe it's hurt us with some kids," Kennedy said. "But with the identity that Cincinnati basketball has across the country, we're still kicking."

"It's been tough," LeGree said. "The guys you wanted him to see he hasn't been able to go out and see. But the kids that we're recruiting, it didn't faze them at all.

"These kids still believe he's a great coach and want to look into the program and determine if this is the right place for them to play."

During his suspension, Huggins was ordered out of his office by Zimpher, who was out of town Thursday and not available to comment on Huggins' return.

Huggins was not permitted to use his university-provided car.

He was paid his annual base salary of $185,000 during his suspension.

He was not allowed to talk with athletic department employees during business hours, but did have informal contact with some of them after hours.

He has been allowed to screen candidates to replace Peters.

"That's only fair," Goin said.

For the most part, though, Goin said Huggins has removed himself from the program and the university, as per the terms of his suspension.

"There hasn't been a monitor on him," Goin said.

"I think he has lived by the law. He and I have had some discussions, but they were four or five days apart and not very business-oriented."

Goin said the Bearcats won't name a new assistant coach before Sept. 1.

He would not confirm reports that Northeastern assistant coach Frank Martin is in line to get the job.

The UC athletic director said he has no regrets about how Huggins' situation has been handled.

"I tried to act in good faith. I tried to be fair and I tried to be firm and make the penalty fit the crime," he said.

"Did I make mistakes along the way? If I did, they weren't done intentionally."

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com