Enquirer News Update - Updated 6:40 p.m.
Huggins will return at end of August
By Bill Koch
Enquirer staff writer
University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins will be back on the job Aug. 27.
UC athletic director Bob Goin announced the reinstatement at a news conference today at the Edwards Center on the UC campus.
Huggins was suspended indefinitely with pay on June 12, following his June 8 arrest in Fairfax for drunken driving.
The reinstatement means that Huggins will be available for the recruiting contact period that begins on Sept. 9 and for the start of practice in mid-October.
Goin read from a statement by university president Nancy Zimpher, Chairman of the Board of Trustees Phillip R. Cox, and himself.
"The president, the board chair and I are satisfied that coach Huggins has taken appropriate steps while under suspension and will, with continued effort, be ready to resume his position at the end of August," the statement read.
"The coach has fulfilled the legal obligations resulting from the incident that prompted his suspension. He has taken appropriate action to focus on his health and his family. And, he has demonstrated that he more clearly understands the expectations of the university and the athletics department regarding his personal and professional performance."
Huggins, who just completed his 15th season at UC, spoke briefly at the news conference, then left as Goin fielded questions from reporters.
"I just want to say I'm deeply appreciative of the way the university handled my situation," Huggins said, "and allowed me the opportunity to return to the role I love, being the head basketball coach here at the University of Cincinnati.
"During my time away, as well as the coming weeks, it's allowed me time to reflect on changes that I certainly can make personally and changes I can make professionally that will do nothing but continue to help the mission here at the University of Cincinnati."
Huggins, 50, pleaded no contest to a charge of drunken driving on June 15 in Fairfax Mayor's Court.
He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with the stipulation that those days would be suspended if he fulfilled a three-day, two-night driver intervention program, which Goin said Huggins has done.
Huggins was also ordered to pay a $350 fine, had his driving privileges suspended for six months and was put on probation for one year.
As part of his suspension, he was ordered by Zimpher to vacate his office and forgo use of his university-furnished automobile. He is paid his base salary of $185,000 during his suspension, but is prohibited from being involved in recruiting or having contact with UC players.
Goin said that as a result of Huggins' conviction on drunk driving charge, his contract, which automatically rolled over each July 1 so that there were always four years remaining, did not roll over this year, leaving him with three years left on his contract.
Huggins' return on Aug. 27 means that his suspension will have lasted 76 days.
Huggins has guided the Bearcats to 13 straight NCAA Tournaments. He has a 374-119 record at UC, with more wins than any other coach in the school's history.
bkoch@enquirer.com
