West Liberty University Athletics

Assistant coach Dr. Aaron Huffman brings his impressive coaching resume to the West Liberty men’s basketball staff for the 16th consecutive season in 2026-2027. Since joining the West Liberty men’s coaching staff in 2011, Coach Huffman has remained a steady presence on the country’s most dominant NCAA Division II men’s basketball program. For the past 15 years, Huffman has provided program continuity, working alongside three different head coaches—Jim Crutchfield, Ben Howlett, and current head coach Mike Lamberti—helping guide the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Division II national tournament in every season. Even more extraordinary, the Hilltoppers have been Conference Champions in 14 of Huffman’s 15 seasons on the bench—in addition to 7 times winning conference tournament championships. At the national level, Huffman has been on the staff for many deep runs in the NCAA Division II national tournament, including 9 NCAA Sweet Sixteens, 7 NCAA Elite Eights, 4 NCAA Final Fours, and 2 NCAA national championship game appearances.

During Coach Huffman’s tenure on the WLU men’s bench, the Hilltoppers have posted an eye-popping win-loss record of 428-63 (.872) — tops among all NCAA men’s basketball programs within that span, regardless of division. Coach Huffman was also named as one of the nation’s “50 Impactful Division II Assistants” by Silver Waves Media in 2020.

Huffman’s college coaching career got its start as a women’s assistant in 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 under legendary Hilltopper Hall of Famer Lynn Ullom. During those two seasons, Huffman helped the WLU women reel off back-to-back WVIAC regular-season titles and WVIAC tournament championships, achieving records of 23-7 and 25-5. In the 2001-2002 season, Huffman moved to the men’s side where he served as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for West Liberty head men’s coach Dan Petri.

From 2002-2008, Huffman enjoyed an incredibly successful run as the head men’s coach at nearby Bethany College (NCAA Division III) where he was honored as the PAC “Coach of the Year” three times — posting a sparkling record of 112-53 (.679), including 3 PAC regular-season titles, 3 PAC tournament championships, and a trio of NCAA Division III national tournament bids. Under his leadership, Huffman’s Bethany Bison established several school and conference records, including setting a PAC conference record with 29 consecutive conference wins.

Coach Huffman returned to West Liberty in 2008-2009 and rejoined Ullom's women's basketball staff for three seasons, helping the lady Hilltoppers to three 20-win seasons and two NCAA tournament bids before joining Jim Crutchfield’s men’s basketball staff in 2011.

Overall, in his 27-year college coaching career, Huffman has accumulated a vast resume of dominance and winning. As either a men’s or women’s head or assistant coach, Coach Huffman has won an astonishing 19 conference championships and 12 conference tournament championships. He has been to the NCAA national tournament 22 times, including 9 NCAA Sweet Sixteens, 7 NCAA Elite Eights, 4 NCAA Final Fours, and 2 NCAA national championship game appearances.

In addition to his coaching duties, Huffman has served in various administrative and academic roles. A Professor of Education in the WLU College of Education and Human Performance, Huffman

served as West Liberty’s Athletic Director in 2015-2016 and was WLU’s NCAA Compliance Coordinator and Athletic Facilities Building Supervisor from 2000-2002. He had two separate stints as NCAA Compliance Coordinator at Bethany College from 2002-2004 and was Bethany’s Summer Athletic Facilities Supervisor from 2003-2008.

Huffman is nationally licensed as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). A graduate of Waynesburg (Pa.) Central High School, Huffman earned his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University (WVU) in Secondary Education with a minor in Mathematics in 1997. He earned his master’s degree in Athletic Coaching Education from WVU in 2000 and went on to earn his doctorate degree in Higher Education Administration from WVU in 2013, minoring in Higher Education Technology and Physical Education Teacher Education.

Huffman resides with his family in West Liberty. His wife, Courtney, serves as WLU’s Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) and is a long-time professor in West Liberty’s celebrated Dental Hygiene program. Their three children all attend West Liberty University and participate as student-athletes—Jacob (senior, men’s track), Jillian (junior, women’s track), and Josh (freshman, men’s basketball).