Legendary guard Huggard dies

Jim Huggard, a rugged guard for Villanova in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and a former coach at Monsignor Bonner, died Friday, Villanova coach Jay Wright announced on Twitter.

“Our Villanova family mourns the passing of a legend, Jim Huggard,” Wright said in a statement on the school’s athletic website. “He was the original tough, Philly Villanova guard. Our love and prayers go out to the Huggard family.”

The 5-10 Huggard became a key player for head coach Al Severence. As a sophomore in 1958-59, he averaged 15.2 points and led the Wildcats to an 18-7 record and a berth in the National Invitation Tournament. He tallied 15 points a game the next season as the Wildcats went 20-6 and reached the NIT again. He averaged a careerhigh 17.3 points per game as a senior.

In three seasons, Huggard scored

1,184 points in 75 career games (15.8 per game) and guided the Wildcats to a

49-26 record. He went on to play in the Eastern League and spent many years as a Division I referee. Huggard was inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame.

Huggard also coached two seasons at Bonner starting in 1978 and went

12-16 in Catholic League games. Funeral arrangements are pending.