Huggins headed to S. Florida?Seth Davis,
SI.com
If a group of well-heeled, highly-connected residents of the Tampa area have their way, Bob Huggins will be the next head coach at the University of South Florida.
An influential USF booster told SI.com this week that supporters of the program have had numerous conversations in recent days with Huggins' Cincinnati-based attorney, Richard Katz, who indicated Huggins would be interested in the Bulls coaching job if it opened up. Third-year coach Robert McCullum is not expected to return after USF's season ends this week with home games against Connecticut and Georgetown. The Bulls are currently 0-14 in their first season in the Big East (6-21 overall) and will not be among the 12 teams to qualify for the conference tournament, which begins on March 8 at Madison Square Garden.
"No decision has been made, but there is really a groundswell here amongst some of the core guys to bring Huggins in," the booster said.
One potential sticking point is South Florida president Judy Genshaft, who is said to be good friends with Nanzy Zimpher, the president at Cincinnati who pressured Huggins into resigning last August. When reached by SI.com on Monday afternoon, Katz declined to comment about the South Florida situation but added, "Coach Huggins is certainly interested in coaching major college basketball again and will be reviewing all situations."
going 399-127 in 16 years at Cincinnati, Huggins remains an attractive candidate for many schools despite his past battles with the NCAA and his DUI arrest in June 2004. He has also worked to maintain a relationship with O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker, two of the nation's top high school juniors who play for North College Hill near Cincinnati. If Huggins does not end up at South Florida, Huggins is also rumored to be a possible replacement for John Chaney at Temple if Chaney retires at the end of the season, as some insiders expect.
Huggins has also quietly expressed an interest in the current opening at Missouri, though for the time being that interest does not appear to be mutual. His flirtation with South Florida is the latest bit of intrigue in what is shaping up to be an active off-season of coaching moves. Word out of Cincinnati is that the school is considering hiring interim coach Andy Kennedy as a permanent replacement for Huggins, but if the Bearcats look elsewhere George Washington coach Karl Hobbs is emerging as a strong favorite.
Speculation is also rampant in college basketball circles that Kentucky coach Tubby Smith could leave Lexington to coach the NBA's
Charlotte Bobcats, where current head coach Bernie Bickerstaff is reportedly contemplating a move to the front office.