Eilert, Kuntz, Long promoted in West Virginia staff shuffle

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia announced several basketball staff changes Monday, all linked to the June retirement of Billy Hahn.

Jay Kuntz, formerly coordinator of player development, was promoted to Hahn’s former role as assistant to the head coach. Kuntz has spent nine years on Bob Huggins’ staff, ranging from student manager to graduate assistant.

Josh Eilert, formerly WVU’s coordinator of basketball operations, will serve as director of basketball operations. Eilert has been integral in video scouting and stepped in as a bench assistant last season when Ron Everhart was recovering from back surgery.

Eilert got his start in coaching when Huggins hired him as a graduate assistant at Kansas State in 2006.

James Long, a reserve guard for the Mountaineers the past three seasons, will begin his coaching career as assistant director of basketball operations. Long is a Charleston native who played his freshman season at Wofford.

Huggins, after declining comment on these staff changes last month when MetroNews sought to confirm them, released a statement Monday:

“All three of these individuals have had an integral part in the success of Mountaineer basketball. These changes open up tremendous opportunities for Josh, Jay and James, and I know they will take full advantage of their roles.”

Everhart told MetroNews in May he was healthy enough to return to recruiting and looking forward to being back on the bench next season.





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