West Virginia is in the mix for a new men’s basketball coach.
Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced Wednesday the Mountaineers have resumed a national search to fill the position.
It was held on an interim basis this season by Josh Eilert after he assumed the title on June 24, 2023.
“As I shared last summer following our initial coaching transition, we decided to wait until the conclusion of the 2023-24 season before embarking on a full national search,” Baker said. “Upon our return to Morgantown from the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship, I met with Coach Eilert, the coaching staff and the team to let them know we are moving forward with our search plans. All of Mountaineer Nation owes a debt of gratitude to Coach Eilert for his leadership during a challenging season, as he and his staff faced all obstacles with class and professionalism.”
Eilert had been with West Virginia since 2007. Before becoming head coach, Eilert was an assistant coach, and he had previously served as Director of Basketball Operations and Video Coordinator.
He took over for Bob Huggins after Huggins’ arrest for DUI in Pittsburgh on June 16.
With Eilert working under a 10-month contract, West Virginia struggled from the start while battling a shorthanded roster and the results never got better once the Mountaineers got to full strength.
Point guard Kerr Kriisa was suspended for the first nine games, and RaeQuan Battle missed the first 10 while battling to become eligible.
Battle’s first game in a Mountaineer uniform came one contest after center Jesse Edwards suffered a fractured wrist that sidelined him for nine games.
WVU limped to a 5-8 non-conference record and despite winning two of its first five Big 12 games, won only two of 14 after that. The Mountaineers ended the season at 9-23 with six straight losses and setbacks in 10 of their last 11 contests, winning only once from February on.
“We are now focused on our collective future, and I am excited about what comes next,” Baker said. “We compete in the best men’s basketball conference in America, we have incredible fans and supporters, we have a history of success and we have a commitment to winning. I am confident we will engage a strong pool of candidates and identify the right leader for our program. As I shared with our student-athletes, we will move deliberately but as swiftly as we can in the days ahead.”