Mar 16, 2023; Birmingham, AL, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Bob Huggins reacts against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — WVU Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Huggins was charged with DUI Friday night in Pittsburgh.

According to information from Pittsburgh police, Huggins was driving a black SUV at around 8:30 p.m. on Merchant Street off of Ridge Avenue when officers observed the vehicle in the middle of the road blocking traffic. Police said the driver’s side door was open and the vehicle had a flat and shredded tire.

“Officers directed the male driver on how best to move off the road so they could help with the flat tire. When they observed him having difficulty maneuvering the SUV to allow vehicles to pass, they activated their lights to pull him over. Upon questioning, officers had strong suspicion to believe the male was intoxicated,” the police report said. “They asked him to exit the vehicle to perform standard field sobriety tests, which he failed. The male was placed in custody without incident and transported for further testing.”

Police identified the driver as Robert Huggins, 69, of Morgantown.

Huggins was charged with Driving Under the Influence. He was released from custody and will appear for a preliminary hearing at a later date.

WVU officials learned of the arrest Saturday morning and released a joint statement through the University and its Department of Intercollegiate Athletics:

“West Virginia University is aware of an incident last night involving Head Men’s Basketball Coach Bob Huggins, for which he was charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in the City of Pittsburgh. We are gathering more information and will take appropriate action once the review is complete.”

FULL COPY OF POLICE COMPLAINT

According to officer accounts, Huggins nearly hit a wall behind him in the process of making a three-point turn just before being pulled over. Upon being stopped by police, Huggins had “glassy eyes and slurred and mumbled speech.”

The criminal complaint says Huggins was unable to state how has tire had become shredded and was not aware where he was. He stated that he had been watching basketball at a camp with his brother in Sherrodsville (Ohio) and could not relay to law enforcement how he’d gotten to Pittsburgh. At one point, Huggins said he was in Columbus, before stating his sister-in-law lives in the Pittsburgh area, though unaware exactly where.

Upon exiting the vehicle, Huggins nearly fell back into the driver’s seat, according to officer accounts. He then displayed “every marker for impairment” while nearly being unable to perform a walk and turn test. A short time later, empty beer cans in a white garbage bag were seen by law enforcement in the front of Huggins’ vehicle, while another white garbage bag of empty metal beer bottles was in the trunk.

After being taken into custody, Huggins blew a .210 when performing a breathalyzer. He was then taken to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh for a blood draw.

Friday night’s arrest is the latest off-the-court issue for Huggins who has already been suspended for the first three games next season after he twice used an anti-gay slur as a radio guest on 700 WLW in Cincinnati on May 8.

WVU responded to that incident by suspending Huggins for the first three games of next season, reducing his annual compensation by $1 million for next season, with that money going to directly support WVU’s LGBTQ+ Center, the Carruth Center as well as other state and national organizations that support marginalized communities.

Huggins also agreed to meet with those groups and communities.

A joint statement issued at the time by WVU President Gordon Gee and Athletics Director Wren Baker said in part, “On Monday, May 8, head men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins was interviewed on a Cincinnati radio show where he used derogatory and offensive language. It was inexcusable. It was a moment that unfairly and inappropriately hurt many people and has tarnished West Virginia University. It is also a moment that provides the opportunity for learning.”

Huggins apologized in his statement.

“I represent more than just our University and our basketball program, and it pains me to know that I have let so many people down. I have no excuse for the language I used, and I take full responsibility,” Huggins said. “I will abide with the actions outlined by the University and Athletics leadership to learn from this incident.”