Report claims Kansas State hires Huggins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bob Huggins accepted an offer to become Kansas State’s basketball coach, FOXSports.com reported early today.

Huggins, forced out last August after 16 years as Cincinnati’s coach, will replace Jim Wooldridge, who was 15-13 this season. FOXSports.com cited an unidentified source who said the deal was done, but terms weren’t known. Calls to Huggins weren’t returned.

Kansas State basketball sports information director Tom Gilbert told The Associated Press that no news conference had yet been scheduled by the school. Huggins’ agent, Richard Katz, told the AP that Huggins had not yet signed a contract, but developments could take place later in the day.

Huggins, 52, accepted a $3 million buyout after a public squabble with new Cincinnati president Nancy Zimpher, who disagreed with the way he ran the Bearcats program. Huggins led Cincinnati to 14 straight NCAA tournament appearances and a Final Four in 1992.

Andy Kennedy, Huggins’ top assistant and recruiting coordinator the past four years, took over the Bearcats as the interim coach. Cincinnati (21-12) is in the NIT quarterfinals, where it will play South Carolina tonight.