The family of Hall of Fame basketball coach Bob Huggins has disclosed that the 73‑year‑old is living with a progressive cognitive condition that is affecting his memory and daily life, just days before he is due to be honoured by the University of Cincinnati.

The former coach, whose 935 wins make him one of the most successful figures in US college basketball, is scheduled to be inducted into the university's James P Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday. The family's statement confirming his condition was released through the university on Wednesday.

Family Statement on Progressive Cognitive Condition

The family said it had kept the matter private for several months but felt it was an appropriate time to share the news as Huggins prepared for his induction into the university's athletics Hall of Fame.

No specific diagnosis has been disclosed. The phrase 'progressive cognitive condition' describes symptoms that worsen over time and does not identify a particular illness.

The family said they recognise the challenges ahead but remain focused on the relationships and moments that bring Huggins joy. They asked for 'privacy, compassion and understanding'. They added that his defining passion has always been the young men he coached and the lives he helped shape.

In the statement, they also highlighted the support network around him, noting that Huggins is surrounded by his wife June, his daughters Jenna and Jacqueline, and his wider family, who they said remain committed to helping him manage the condition and maintain as much independence as possible.

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University of Cincinnati Pays Tribute

The University of Cincinnati called Huggins 'undoubtedly one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history', saying he restored the Bearcats' basketball programme to national prominence. The athletics department said it looked forward to welcoming him and his family back to campus and offered its support.

Huggins will be inducted on Friday evening, the night before Cincinnati's football match against Texas Tech. He joins the Bearcats' 50th Hall of Fame class.

Bob Huggins' Career Across Five Institutions

Huggins began his head‑coaching career in 1980 at Walsh College, then an NAIA programme, before moving to Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State and West Virginia. Over 41 seasons he compiled 935 wins and 414 defeats, with 26 NCAA tournament appearances and two Final Four appearances.

He is Cincinnati's all‑time leader in wins, with 399 between 1989 and 2005. He led the Bearcats to 14 consecutive NCAA tournaments and the 1992 Final Four, and his 1999‑2000 side was ranked No 1 in the country for 12 weeks.

He later took West Virginia, his alma mater, to the 2010 Final Four. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.

His career also included controversy. He left Cincinnati in 2005 after a power struggle with the university's president, following a 2004 drink‑driving case in which he pleaded no contest.

In 2023, West Virginia suspended him for three games, cut his salary by $1 million (approximately £746,564) and required sensitivity training after he used an anti-gay slur on a Cincinnati radio station. Weeks later, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Pittsburgh and announced his resignation, although he later disputed that he had resigned.

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