MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU’s week-long search to replace Bob Huggins has come to a close. And one of Huggins’ long-time staff members will now lead the WVU men’s basketball program.
Josh Eilert has been named as interim head coach. Eilert will be the 22nd head coach in the history of the Mountaineer men’s basketball team. MetroNews was first to report the hiring Saturday evening.
“I spoke with knowledgeable basketball people around the country over the last week, including coaches, professional basketball executives and others of whom I trust to identify a strong group of candidates to speak with,” WVU Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said.
“Ultimately what I came to recognize, was that conducting this search in late June was difficult for many of our candidates and also it put our talented student-athletes at a real disadvantage. With that said, we will conduct our national search at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.”
Eilert has spent the last 16 seasons on the WVU basketball staff. Eilert was a graduate assistant coach for Huggins in his lone season at Kansas State in 2006-2007.
Eilert has progressed through the program in a variety of roles. He has served as the team’s video coordinator and Assistant Athletic Director for Basketball Operations. Last July, Eilert was promoted to assistant coach. He also served as an interim assistant coach during the 2016-2017 season. Eilert has played a key role in helping the Mountaineers to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.
“Josh Eilert is the right person to lead our men’s basketball program next season,” Baker added. “He has been an important part of our success, and he has displayed great integrity, work ethic and dedication. He has been involved in all facets of our program during his time on the basketball staff, and he has earned this opportunity to coach our team on an interim basis for the 2023-24 season.
“Our athletics department will provide Josh, his staff and our student-athletes with a great support system and will do everything we can to ensure a successful season. Change is never easy and always presents challenges, but I am confident that this is the correct decision at this time. Moving forward and continuing our preparation for the upcoming season is the top priority now for our program.”
“I would like to thank Wren Baker, President Gee, Rob Alsop, Steve Uryasz and the rest of our administration for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to lead our storied Mountaineer basketball program,” Eilert said. “I would also like to thank Coach Huggins for retaining me on his staff at K-State in 2006 and for bringing me to West Virginia in 2007. I’ve learned so much from Coach Huggins, and it was an honor to work for a Hall of Fame coach for the last 17 years.
“I’m excited about this opportunity to lead the wonderful group of guys that we have in our locker room. They have been working extremely hard on the court, in the weight room and in the classroom since they returned to campus on June 5. In the coming days and weeks, I will be solidifying our roster and getting our team ready to head to Italy later this summer.”
Breaking: Source: WVU has come to terms with current WVU assistant Josh Eilert to be the interim head basketball coach
— Hoppy Kercheval (@HoppyKercheval) June 24, 2023
Eilert completed his playing career in 2004 after competing at Kansas State for two seasons. Prior to arriving in Manhattan, Eilert played two seasons at Cloud County Community College.
While at KSU, Eilert was a first team all-Big 12 academic selection as a senior and four times was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Eilert was honored with the Keith Amerson Academic Award in 2004. While at Cloud County, he earned KJCAA Academic All-America honors as a sophomore. He is a native of Osborne, Kansas.
WVU worked hard to try to secure John Beilein, but reportedly Gordon Gee and Wren Baker are high on Eilert. Key is keeping roster, especially after three players had entered portal.
— Hoppy Kercheval (@HoppyKercheval) June 24, 2023
Josh Eilert interviewed well. Has a good relationship with the players. They are comfortable with him. Has never been a head coach.
— Hoppy Kercheval (@HoppyKercheval) June 24, 2023
Eilert replaces Huggins, who resigned last weekend following his DUI arrest in Pittsburgh.
Prior to his resignation, Huggins compiled one of the top transfer portal classes in the nation. Notable additions to the roster include Syracuse transfer Jesse Edwards, Arizona transfer Kerr Kriisa, Montana State’s RaeQuan Battle and Manhattan’s Omar Silverio. Jose Perez, who joined the team last November from Manhattan, will be eligible for the first time this season.
The Mountaineers qualified for the NCAA Tournament in the 2022-2023 season and they finished the year with a 19-15 record.
Eilert is now tasked with keeping a roster together after three players, Tre Mitchell, Kerr Kriisa and Joe Toussaint announced their intentions to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal earlier this week. All players still have the option to remain at WVU.
Eilert will be introduced at a press conference Monday afternoon.