Cincinnati's Huggins Suspended Indefinitely

Bob Huggins

The University of Cincinnati has placed head men's basketball coach Bob Huggins on indefinite suspension to allow him to address issues of health and well-being.

The mandatory suspension, announced Saturday by UC director of athletics Bob Goin, will remove Huggins from all responsibilities and duties related to coaching, though he will continue to be paid. The length of the suspension will ultimately be determined by Huggins' ability to meet criteria mutually agreed-upon by the coach and the university.

"In my time as director here, I can tell you without challenge that I have asked Bobby to please take some time to rest and spend quality time away from the job," stated Goin. " You can only imagine the resistance, not because it didn't sound good but because of the demands of running a high-pressure Division I nationally-ranked program, that many of you present and thousands more who can't fit in this room, demand it be ultra-successful."

Goin explained that the suspension "will permit him (Huggins) the opportunity to reflect, re-energize and update his life's priorities. It will also let him address any personal matters which he has ignored.

"If he will accept this in the good faith in which it is intended, and with the support of his family and all who love him, it is my desire that Bobby will return fresh and in better condition to resume the demands of the job which he loves so much," Goin said.

Huggins indicated his acceptance of the terms outlined by Goin during the media conference.

"My intention is to do everything in my power to meet whatever conditions--whatever I'm asked to do by my superiors," Huggins stated. "I have a great love for this university and a great love for this community, and I would hope that decisions I've made in the past that were decisions to stay here would be a part of this university and this community would bear that out."

Huggins was cited on June 8 for driving under the influence, an incident he said was "a terrible mistake that I will pay deeply for.

"My intention is to do the right things," Huggins added. "My wish and my hope is that I can complete and do what is asked of me so that I can go back and be with my players. I want everybody to know that I will do everything that I am asked to do, and probably more, to expediate the time that I can be back involved with my guys."

Huggins, 50, has compiled a 374-119 record in 15 seasons as head coach at Cincinnati. He has directed the Bearcats to 10 conference regular season titles, eight league tournament crowns, and has piloted UC to 13 straight NCAA Tournaments. His 1992 team reached the NCAA Final Four and two other squads advanced to the Elite Eight.

Cincinnati was 25-7, won the Conference USA regular season and tournament championships, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tourney in 2003-04.

Huggins has compiled a 542-191 record in 23 seasons as a head coach, making him the fifth winningest active Division I coach in the nation. He previously served at Walsh College (1980-83) and Akron (1984-89), before being named head coach at Cincinnati on March 29, 1989.