From the Vault -West Virginia: The Hero's Journey of Hot Rod HundleyBig Stories • Season 3, Episode 58
Mar 26, 2026 • 13m
When the Big Stories team hit a recording snag, we reached back into the vault for a great story from Season 1 — and with March Madness in full swing, the timing couldn't be better.
This week, we revisit our episode about Hot Rod Hundley — the Charleston, West Virginia native who became a West Virginia University basketball legend. Equal parts showman, entertainer, and flawed hero, Hot Rod dazzled crowds with behind-the-back passes, hook shots, and a personality that packed arenas long before the varsity game even tipped off.
We hear from filmmaker Dan Loman, WVU's Director of Athletic Content John Antonik, bar owner Al Bonner, and Hot Rod's own daughters — painting a portrait of a man who was larger than life on the court, complicated off of it, and beloved by an entire state.
From his hardscrabble childhood in Charleston to the retirement of his #33 jersey at WVU Coliseum, Hot Rod's hero's journey is messy, funny, and deeply human.