Eilert named as Interim Head Coach of WVU men’s basketball

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WTAP) - A long-time assistant Josh Eilert has been promoted to interim head coach of the WVU men’s basketball team.

The announcement was made in a news release Saturday evening by WVU Vice President and Athletic Director Wren Baker.

Eilert has been on the Mountaineers basketball staff for 16 years. He came to WVU with former head coach Bob Huggins from Kansas St.

In his time, he has helped WVU make it to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2012 Final Four and five Sweet 16s.

Eilert has held many roles with the WVU basketball team, including coaching the wing and post players, recruiting, basketball operations, and fundraising. This past season he was an assistant coach.

Eilert played two seasons of basketball at Kansas St.

WVU will conduct a national coaching search after the season.

In the news release, Eilert says, “I would like to thank Wren Baker, President Gee, Rob Alsop, Steve Uryasz and the rest of our administration for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to lead our storied Mountaineer basketball program,” Eilert said. “I would also like to thank Coach Huggins for retaining me on his staff at K-State in 2006 and for bringing me to West Virginia in 2007. I’ve learned so much from Coach Huggins, and it was an honor to work for a Hall of Fame coach for the last 17 years.

WVU AD Baker says, “I spoke with knowledgeable basketball people around the country over the last week, including coaches, professional basketball executives and others of whom I trust to identify a strong group of candidates to speak with,” … “Ultimately what I came to recognize, was that conducting this search in late June was difficult for many of our candidates and also it put our talented student-athletes at a real disadvantage. With that said, we will conduct our national search at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.”

Eilert takes over for Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins. Huggins resigned on June 17 after an arrest for DUI in Pittsburgh.

Wren Baker’s Letter to Mountaineer Nation

Mountaineer Nation,

Last weekend, as we embarked on a national search for a new Head Men’s Basketball Coach, I had the opportunity to connect with our incredible current men’s basketball student-athletes, and many former letterwinners, alumni, donors and fans, all of whom truly love West Virginia University and want the very best for our athletic programs. A common refrain from all of them was for us to find an elite coach who fits our culture and who is ready to build upon our storied tradition.

To that end, I spoke with knowledgeable basketball people around the country over the last week, including coaches, professional basketball executives and others of whom I trust to identify a strong group of candidates to speak with, some of whom I did. But ultimately what I came to recognize, was that conducting this search in late June was difficult for many of our candidates because of the timing and also put our talented student-athletes at a real disadvantage, unsure of what the future held for them.

After consultation with President Gee, we have offered the Head Coach position on an interim basis to current Assistant Coach Josh Eilert, who will proudly and effectively serve through the end of the 2023-24 season, at which time we will begin anew with our search for a permanent head coach. Coach Eilert has spent the last 16 seasons on the Mountaineer Men’s Basketball staff, currently serving as an Assistant Coach, and formerly as Assistant Athletics Director for Basketball Operations and as our Video Coordinator. Coach Eilert has played a vital role as he has touched all aspects of our basketball program, from scouting to recruiting, player development to game planning, and we are thrilled to have him lead our program this year and we know, Brandi, Brendan, Emri and Tristan will continue to play a large role in our WVU Basketball Family.

This has not been an easy time for any of us who love our University and our athletics program but I am confident that we have great days ahead of us. I ask all of Mountaineer Nation to rally around Coach Eilert and his staff and, most importantly, the tremendous young men in our basketball program.

Sincerely,

Just a week following future Hall of Fame Head Coach Bob Huggin’s DUI arrest and resignation from the WVU men’s basketball program, the Mountaineers have found their new man.

Josh Eilert, the assistant coach for the WVU Mountaineers has been named as the Interim Head Coach of the West Virginia University men’s basketball team.

The blue & gold stay in house for this hire after a lot of rumors swirled around different coaching candidates.

Eilert was named as the interim head coach, meaning depending on his success this season, there may be another new head coach the following season.

“I spoke with knowledgeable basketball people around the country over the last week, including coaches, professional basketball executives and others of whom I trust to identify a strong group of candidates to speak with,” Athletic Director Wren Baker said. “Ultimately what I came to recognize, was that conducting this search in late June was difficult for many of our candidates and also it put our talented student-athletes at a real disadvantage. With that said, we will conduct our national search at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.”

Eilert has been with the Mountaineers for the past 16 years after coming over to WVU from Kansas State in 2007.

“I would like to thank Wren Baker, President Gee, Rob Alsop, Steve Uryasz and the rest of our administration for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to lead our storied Mountaineer basketball program,” Eilert said. “I would also like to thank Coach Huggins for retaining me on his staff at K-State in 2006 and for bringing me to West Virginia in 2007. I’ve learned so much from Coach Huggins, and it was an honor to work for a Hall of Fame coach for the last 17 years.

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