Bob Huggins Drunk? West Virginia Coach Reportedly Drank Before Nike Clinic Speech

West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins was one of many current and former college basketball coaches -- from Coach K to Bob Knight -- to speak at a Nike clinic over the weekend at Robert Morris College. But it was only Huggins' speech that apparently raised eyebrows in Pittsburgh.

Deadspin reported that an eye witness noticed Huggins slurring his speech. Many who were present for his presentation on Saturday tweeted about Huggins' state of mind.

@JSputz
Justin Saputski

Bob Huggins speaks drunk at #RMU basketball clinic today #class

April 14, 2012 10:26 pm via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

@mueymal
mueymal

@BBallClinics @coachhuggs - Bob Huggins at Nike Coaching Clinic = drunk and borderline racist...actually racist, not borderline. @espn @Nike

April 14, 2012 8:37 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite

@SteadHead
Matthew Stead

Saw some great coaches at the Nike Clinic. Bob Knight was great, Billy D & Roy Williams were good. Bob Huggins was drunk during his session.

April 16, 2012 10:28 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

@ErinKeith2
Erin Keith

Bob Huggins, you were entertaining to say the least. It wasn't obvious at all you were trashed. "Bad shot lead to bad passes!" #classic

April 15, 2012 12:33 am via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

@SPORTSbyBROOKS
SPORTSbyBROOKS

Told Huggins 'speech' @ Nike clinic on Sat invoked fond memories of his critically-acclaimed late-'90s performance on police cruiser dashcam

April 17, 2012 9:00 pm via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

If true, this wouldn't be Huggins' first public incident involving alcohol. In 2004, when Huggins was the coach at Cincinnati, he was arrested on a drunken driving charge, in which he pled no contest to DUI.

A few months after Huggins was forced to resign from his position at Cincinnati in August of 2005, he spoke about drinking with Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News. When asked if he drinks less now after the DUI, Huggins said "sure."

"The reality is, I'm not 32, 35 years old any more," Huggins said. I'm 52 years old. I used to sleep four hours a night. I can't do that. There's a lot of things in my life that have changed. After I had the heart attack, and I'm on all this medication — I can't."

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Comments

[Thenintyninepointfive]

05:33 PM on 04/21/2012

Are you kidding me Bob Huggins wrestles alligators in Florida for fun, climbed up a 80 feet tree to put back an Eagle chick that fell from it's nest, he showed that Mozart could have compose better songs ...... Bob Huggins..... "Stay thirsty my friend" !

[BMW540i95]

10:25 PM on 04/20/2012

less drinky, drinky and more thinky, thinky coach...

[t iessa]

05:47 PM on 04/20/2012

I'm shocked I tell you. Just shocked.

[Six Gator]

03:57 PM on 04/20/2012

Maybe he was drunk when he "floor-humped" that kid a few years ago, during the tourney he USUALLY bows out early in!.

[BMW540i95]

10:24 PM on 04/20/2012

i remember that too... super creepy... but now i understand it better, everyone looks a little better after a few belts...

[Six Gator]

09:28 AM on 04/23/2012

HAHAHAHA! yeah, Huggy-HUGS!

[Six Gator]

03:42 PM on 04/20/2012

For WHOM is this news? Bob Huggins drunk?- Color me surprised!

[frank day]

01:16 PM on 04/18/2012

Huggins builds winning teams, but I wouldn't want my kid playing for him.

[Joepalookatoo]

02:19 PM on 04/18/2012

Funny. I've never been a Huggins fan, yet I know from conversation w a coupla ex-players that they really 'love' him. It might be that with some kids absent a father figure growing up that Huggins' 'rough 'n tumble in your face life' is both a lifestyle and means of communication they can relate to. STILL not a fan but trying to understand (i was impressed w the sincerity of the kids who liked him). He's been tempermental ever since he started picking fights in the Cross Town Shootout in Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati has a much more disciplined coach in Mick Cronin.

[TooKrunk]

04:46 PM on 04/18/2012

Your kid probably couldn't hack it anyway.

[frank day]

06:12 PM on 04/18/2012

No kid should have to "hack it" with an abusive wino.

[Six Gator]

03:53 PM on 04/20/2012

hack what, The Slackjaw way he trips into the Final 4 using other Coaches players (twice) or the way he leaves the Tourney early when stocked with his own players?....Yeah, real tough to "hack" that...Although, I'll say "HACK" and Bobby Huggins do go together!
He's THE most over-rated Coach in Basketball. What has he won, outside some CUSA Titles?
No wonder his players love him, he gets them drunk too!

[shawman65]

11:55 AM on 04/18/2012

Wow. What a shocker. Huggy Bear drunk... Fire this guy and show us all it's not ok.