Bob Huggins lobbies for Louisville coaching job amid search

Less than a year after being arrested for DUI and subsequently resigning from the West Virginia job, college hoops coach Bob Huggins is looking for new opportunities and would love a shot at Louisville.

The Cardinals fired Kenny Payne just after the season following a tough two-year tenure as head coach. The search has already featured a ton of twists and turns, but no Louisville fan would have expected Huggins’ name to enter the discussion. In all likelihood, UL brass won’t even consider him, but he’s throwing his hat in the ring anyway, per WDRB, a Louisville news station.

WDRB’s Rick Bozich wrote that Huggins appeared on the radio with Louisville talk show host Jerry Eaves Wednesday morning and expressed interest in the open Cards’ job.

“Appearing on The Jerry Eaves radio show Wednesday morning, Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins said that he wants to be considered for the University of Louisville men’s basketball job,” wrote Bozich.

He notes that Huggins said on the show: “I think it fits me perfect.” The former WVU coach also explained that he’s had little trouble filling the KFC Yum! Center as an opposing coach: “I put butts in the seats for Louisville when I was at Cincinnati.”

Huggins went a bit longer on the radio show revealing why the job and its rich history appeals to him so much.

“I’m really excited. I would be really excited to be there. I would want to be and do what what Coach (Denny) Crum did. I’ve always had a love for Louisville, believe it or not.

“I love going to Louisville and playing. I love the fan base, the way the way they embrace the team, the way they they embrace Louisville basketball. I think it’s a great place. I think it’s something that fits me perfectly. Much like Cincinnati did when I got to Cincinnati.”

Loving words from Huggins towards Louisville and the open head coaching job. However, given the nasty details of his DUI situation, the homophobic slur he used on the radio just before that, and his age at 71, Louisville almost certainly has no plans to even look into Bob Huggins as an option, even though his record purely as a coach is admirable.

At the current moment, New Mexico’s Richard Pitino, Indiana State’s Josh Schertz and Charleston’s Pat Kelsey appear to be the candidates under consideration for the Louisville job.