** Josh Eilert’s contract is for 10 months, worth $1.5 million. He made $180,000, plus incentives, as an assistant last season.
** WVU men’s basketball staff members who are about to have their contracts run out on June 30, will have their deals extended for a period of time, until Eilert makes final decisions on the staff.
“This happens and they didn’t do anything wrong,” WVU athletic director Wren Baker said. “I told them earlier that we won’t let anyone’s employment end on June 30. I’m not promising you a full year. It may be 60 days. It may be 90 days. I got in front of them early and said that wasn’t going to happen. That’s not how we treat people, especially people who have families and kids.”
** WVU employed the search firm TurnkeyZRG out of New Jersey to assist with the search.
** Baker confirmed the university will still honor its commitment to donate $1 million to directly support WVU’s LGBTQ+ Center, the Carruth Center and other state and national organizations that support marginalized communities, which was first announced in May, after former coach Bob Huggins used homophobic slurs during a radio interview.
** Baker also confirmed the school did not give Huggins any type of severance upon his resignation on June 17. Huggins will be paid $1.25 million of deferred compensation, which is funds he’s had withheld from prior paychecks. It’s not money coming out of the athletic department’s budget.
** Baker also said the school has not ordered Huggins to stay away from the program.
“I don’t think I would ever say he needs to stay away,” Baker said. “When you have somebody like that who the fans love and is passionate, that’s not the right course of action. My only encouragement to him was to get healthy. I know he cares a lot for Josh, so he won’t want to do anything but support Josh. Part of supporting Josh is to let him lead and coach and not feel like there is this legend looking over his shoulder.”
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