Beyond the Wins: Allan Hilsinger’s Film Reveals the Real Bob Huggins

By Mike Meldon

When I spoke with fellow Oak Hills High School alum and Sigma Chi brother Allan Hilsinger, I expected a conversation about sports. Instead, we talked about bonds and loyalty.

Hilsinger—founder of 9 Ton Media Group—has spent his career building companies by finding the right people and trusting them. That philosophy led him into documentary filmmaking and, eventually, to a simple question: Why had no one told the full life story of Bob Huggins?

A lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Bearcats, Hilsinger assembled a tight team and interviewed about 40 former players, coaches, and family members—from stars like Kenyon Martin to colleagues like Bill Self. The message they shared was consistent: decades later, Huggins is still “Coach”—and often a father figure.

I grew up a Xavier Musketeers fan myself, but hearing stories from people close to Huggins, including former Bearcat Steve Logan, changed my perspective. The documentary isn’t about wins or rivalries. It’s about relationships.

Hilsinger told me one moment that says it all: Huggins’ Hall of Fame ring, still in plastic, tucked away at home in Morgantown. “He doesn’t care about accolades,” Hilsinger said. “He cares about his guys.”

The film premieres April 17 at Memorial Hall, with plans to shop it to major platforms—maybe even alongside the 30 for 30 series on ESPN.

For Cincinnati fans—and really anyone who believes sports can change lives—it sounds like a story worth seeing.

 Here is the trailer for the documentary.

You can listen to our full conversation here: