CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Jim Justice doesn’t seem afraid to juggle responsibilities.
West Virginia’s richest man already coaches both the girls and boys basketball teams at Greenbrier East High School. If Justice is elected governor next week, he says he’ll try to keep that up.
During one of the gubernatorial debates last month, Justice was asked about balancing his potential Statehouse duties with his coaching responsibilities.
“I’d ask any of you just this: What have I ever done halfway?” Justice responded. “I am going to coach this year. We’ll see. We’ll just see what happens.”
Last year, Justice’s two teams played 48 total games. They were also up against Greenbrier County winter weather, which forced a lot of games to be rescheduled.
Meanwhile, the 60-day session was full of drama about right-to-work, prevailing wage, the religious freedom act, concealed carry and late-term abortions.
Justice said he is committed to the state and to his Spartans.
“I do love the kids. We’ll see how it goes. If after this year we see that there’s duties beyond belief that I need to take care of, I’ll give it up.
“I am telling you hands down, my number one responsibility in life — there’s no way in the world anybody’s going to put theirself through all this stuff if they’re not going to be 100 percent your governor. Those kids have assistant coaches and everything and they’ll be taken care of. I’ll be here a thousand percent of the time.”
His opponent, Republican Bill Cole, expressed doubt that such a balance would be possible.
“I didn’t hear that at all. I didn’t hear you’d be here a thousand percent of the time. Maybe that’s that new math,” Cole said.
Some factors are in favor for Justice’s attempt.
The new governor’s inauguration won’t be until Jan. 16. The basketball season, which starts in early December, will be in full swing by then.
“The season will be over three weeks after I take office,” Justice noted. “I have qualified assistants. A great superintendent. And I love those kids, I really do.”
By the time the legislative session starts up in February, later than usual because of the inauguration, the basketball squads will have their eyes on sectional and regional competition.
Can anyone navigate the important issues of a West Virginia legislative session while also coaching two high school basketball teams?
Here’s a timeline showing how the season and the session would have laid out last year: