Hall of Fame college basketball coach Bob Huggins has a progressive cognitive condition that "has begun to affect his memory and aspects of his daily life," his family said in a joint statement released by the University of Cincinnati on Wednesday.
Huggins, 73, won 935 career games and coached in 26 NCAA tournaments and two Final Fours during stints at Walsh (then-NAIA), Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State and West Virginia.
He is to be inducted into the University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night.
"Although Bob and his family recognize the challenges that lie ahead, they remain focused on the relationships, experiences and moments that bring him joy," the statement said.
"The family respectfully asks for privacy, compassion and understanding as they navigate this next chapter together."
The family's statement said that they had chosen to keep this matter private over the past few months but decided to share the news before Huggins' induction.
Huggins is the winningest coach in Bearcats basketball history with 399 wins from 1989 to 2005, making 14 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
"Bob is deeply grateful for the tremendous honor being bestowed upon him by the University of Cincinnati," his family said in the statement. "His years leading the Bearcats represent an unforgettable chapter in his life, filled with cherished relationships, remarkable accomplishments, and memories that will always hold a special place in his heart.
"He's looking forward to returning to Cincinnati this weekend, celebrating with former players and friends, and sharing in a moment that recognizes not only his accomplishments, but also the enduring bonds formed along the way."
Former Huggins pupil Jerrod Calhoun was named Cincinnati's coach in March. Calhoun graduated from Cincinnati in 2004 and was a student assistant under Huggins during the 2003-04 season. He also spent five seasons on Huggins' staff at West Virginia from 2007 to 2012.
Huggins' teams were NCAA tournament staples, and included all-Americans Danny Fortson and Steve Logan and 2000 AP national Player of the Year Kenyon Martin for the Bearcats. Cincinnati reached the Final Four under Huggins in 1992 before losing to Michigan in the national semifinals.
At West Virginia, Huggins landed few high-profile recruits. The 2010 West Virginia team won the Big East tournament and defeated top-seeded Kentucky along its ride to the national semifinals before losing to Duke.
In May 2023, during an appearance on a Cincinnati radio station, Huggins used an anti-gay slur to refer to Xavier fans while also denigrating Catholics. He was suspended for three games at the start of the 2023-24 season, took a $1 million salary reduction and was required to undergo sensitivity training.
Then, in June 2023, Huggins was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Pittsburgh and resigned the next day. He also was arrested for drunken driving in 2004 while at Cincinnati. That incident led to his firing in 2005 in a power struggle with the school's president.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
