Huffman named interim AD at West Liberty
Aaron Huffman, a Waynesburg native, was named interim athletic director at West Liberty University after long-time AD Jim Watson announced his retirement Wednesday.
Watson was West Liberty’s athletic director for 26 years.
Huffman, who is an assistant men’s basketball coach and assistant professor of physical education and health, will begin his new duties July 1.
“I am confident that Aaron will carry forward the tradition of quality leadership established by Jim,” West Liberty interim president Dr. John McCullough said. “Aaron was recommended by Coach Watson and has strong support from the athletic staff.”
West Liberty squads have won 34 conference titles over the past 15 years and eight of the Hilltoppers’ 16 intercollegiate sports teams have reached NCAA Division II regional tournament play during Watson’s tenure.
Huffman began his coaching career at West Liberty as a women’s basketball assistant from 1999 to 2001. The Lady Hilltoppers had back-to-back West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles during Huffman’s time with the program. He then spent the 2001-02 season as a men’s basketball assistant and recruiting coordinator before being hired as head men’s basketball coach at Bethany College in 2002.
At Bethany, Huffman was a three-time Presidents’ Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and had a 112-53 record, leading the Bison to three PAC regular-season and conference tournament championships and three NCAA Division III tournament berths.
Bethany had a PAC-record 29-game winning streak under Huffman. The 2004-05 team won a school-record 24 games. He also coached four PAC Players of the Year.
Huffman returned to West Liberty in 2011-12 and has helped the Hilltoppers reach the Division II Elite Eight in three of the last four seasons.