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The Lunch: Staff moves latest sign of Huggins’ loyalty and vice versa

COMMENTARY

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The latest series of staff moves within the West Virginia basketball program didn’t ring too newsy because head coach Bob Huggins has maintained an unusual run of continuity.

Along with racking up 819 wins, Huggins has piled up a mountain of loyalty points, keeping his support crew mostly intact during the past decade in Morgantown (and in some cases, beyond).

Assistant Erik Martin and newly promoted director of basketball operations Josh Eilert each followed Huggins from Kansas State. Associate head coach Larry Harrison has been with Huggins for all 10 seasons at WVU and eight previously at Cincinnati.

Jay Kuntz, at age 27, has spent one-third of his life working under Huggins. That’s four years as student manager, three as a grad assistant and the last two as coordinator of player development. As of this week Kuntz became assistant to the head coach, replacing the retired Billy Hahn. (No word yet on whether Kuntz also inherits Hahn’s old seat next to the scorer’s table. Or whether he’ll fully encompass his predecessor’s role by drawing the occasional technical.)

Even the newest staff addition, James Long, isn’t really new — having spent the past three seasons as a reserve guard for the Mountaineers. His first full-time gig will be assistant director of basketball operations, where Long’s scouting familiarity with Big 12 players and his former teammates could make for a seamless move.

The shortest-tenured assistant coach, Ron Everhart, has been with West Virginia for the entirety of its five-year run in the Big 12. He came aboard after posting four winning records in five seasons at Duquesne — a stretch that should’ve earned him a lifetime contract at such a program yet in the eyes of AD Greg Amodio somehow added up to a fireable offense.

Oh well, that boneheaded move turned out to be the Mountaineers’ gain, and another trusted comrade within the Huggins Brigade. A tight group, a loyal group, and one that could have Press Virginia back in the top 10 next season.





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