Bob Huggins' family said Wednesday that the 73-year-old is living with a progressive cognitive condition that has begun affecting his memory and daily life, a disclosure made as he prepares to be inducted into the University of Cincinnati's James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. The family said Huggins plans to return to Cincinnati for the ceremony.
That announcement changes the conversation around a weekend that was already set to draw attention to one of the most recognizable figures in Cincinnati basketball. His family said they had kept the diagnosis private for several months before deciding to share it now, and that June, Jenna, Jacqueline and other family members continue to support him.
The disclosure also makes clear what will not happen around the event. Neither Huggins nor his relatives will be available for interviews about his health or his Hall of Fame induction, and the family asked for privacy as he faces the condition. The University of Cincinnati said it will not provide additional comment on his health.
Cincinnati Athletics said it is excited to welcome Coach Bob Huggins and his family back to campus this weekend for his induction into the James P. Kelly Athletics Hall of Fame. In a statement, the department said he restored Cincinnati basketball to national prominence, ignited passion for the Bearcats across the city and left an indelible mark on generations of student-athletes.
Huggins coached at Walsh University, Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State and West Virginia during a career that stretched more than four decades, and this weekend's honor now arrives with a public acknowledgment of the private struggle his family says he has been facing. The ceremony is still set to go ahead, but the details surrounding him have shifted sharply from celebration alone to a quieter moment centered on support and privacy.
