Men's Basketball
Howland, Ben
Ben Howland
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 325-3800
Over the course of a storied 38-year coaching career, Ben Howland has established himself as a proven winner and ascended to one of college basketball’s elite head coaches.
Howland, the most decorated and accomplished coach in school history, has built his career on the foundation of hard work, humility, integrity and service. He has brought stability and a calming influence to the Mississippi State program with an average of 21.5 wins per season over the last four years.
Mississippi State has piled up 86 victories since the start of 2017-18, which is tied for fourth-most among SEC schools over the last four seasons. The Bulldogs also have earned three straight bids to postseason play when postseason tournaments have been played for the first time in nearly a decade, highlighted by a 2019 NCAA Tournament trip and a 2021 NIT Runner-Up finish under Howland’s direction.
Mississippi State has captured 38 SEC wins over the last four seasons, which is the program’s best four-year total in nearly a decade. In 2018-19 and 2019-20, the Bulldogs also secured 10-plus SEC victories in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons under Richard Williams and tucked away the program’s best SEC regular season finish in 2019-20 going back to the 2010-11 campaign.
The 2021-22 campaign marks Howland’s seventh season with the Bulldogs and his 26th season as a head coach.
One of Howland’s signature accomplishments has been the rebuilding stamp he has placed on teams throughout his career. He is a staple of March Madness and one of 15 coaches in NCAA history to lead four programs to the Big Dance.
Howland has enjoyed an unprecedented level of success and compiled an impressive list of accolades which include three straight NCAA Final Four runs in 2006-07-08 and a 2006 NCAA Runner-Up finish at UCLA. He is the only coach in NCAA history to appear in the NCAA Final Four and win at least 30 games during three consecutive seasons.
Howland is joined by Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski as the only active coaches to secure three straight NCAA Final Four berths. He is one of 10 coaches to accomplish the prestigious feat in NCAA history, headed by 10-time national champion John Wooden at UCLA.
Overall, Howland’s teams have amassed 15 postseason appearances, 14 seasons of 20-plus wins, 11 NCAA Tournament bids, eight regular season conference championships and five NCAA Sweet 16 trips. He has garnered seven national coach of the year accolades and collected conference coach of the year honors in three leagues.
Howland’s energetic approach and insatiable drive have helped numerous players achieve their professional dreams. Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday and Zach LaVine spearhead a list of 26 NBA players who have combined for 16 nods to the NBA All-Star Game. LaVine was signed by Howland to play at UCLA. Howland’s 26 NBA players have combined to earn approximately $1.04 billion in career earnings and are slated to make a combined $141.8 million in 2021-22.
Westbrook, a five-time All-NBA First-Team honoree and two-time NBA scoring champion, was the 2017 NBA MVP. He was the first player in league history to average a triple-double for the season since Oscar Robertson during the 1960s and holds the NBA’s all-time record with 184 career triple-doubles through the 2020-21 season.
Trevor Ariza (Los Angeles Lakers • 2009), Love (Cleveland Cavilers • 2016), Norman Powell (Toronto Raptors • 2019) and Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks • 2021) are active players joined by Jordan Farmar (Los Angeles Lakers • 2009 & 2010) who have won NBA Championships.
Love and Westbrook have won gold medals for Team USA at the 2012 Olympics in London, England, while Holiday and LaVine also claimed gold with Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Howland’s coaching tree has seven former assistant coaches who have later become head coaches at the college level, headed by Jamie Dixon who succeeded him at Pittsburgh and is the current coach of his alma mater, TCU. He left the cupboard fully-stocked as Northern Arizona, Pitt and UCLA each made NCAA Tournament trips the next season following his departure. Pitt racked up a school-record 31 victories and captured an outright BIG EAST regular season crown, while the Panthers and Bruins made runs to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The foundation for Mississippi State’s road back to the 2019 NCAA Tournament was laid by a quartet of 1,000-point scorers in Quinndary Weatherspoon, Tyson Carter, Aric Holman and Lamar Peters.
Weatherspoon, a 2019 All-SEC First-Team pick, wrapped up his career as the only MSU player to dial up over 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals. Carter made program history as the first player to secure the SEC’s Sixth-Man of the Year award in 2019-20, while Holman and Peters finished their careers among MSU’s top 10 in blocks and assists, respectively.
Reggie Perry, a top five finalist for the 2020 Karl Malone Award given to the nation’s top forward, came away with All-SEC First-Team accolades in 2019-20. Before Perry, the last player in program history to average a season double-double was NBA First-Round pick Arnett Moultrie in 2011-12.
Perry and Robert Woodard II became the first Mississippi State duo since Mario Austin and Derrick Zimmerman in 2003 to be selected during the same NBA Draft in 2020. Perry (Brooklyn Nets), Weatherspoon (San Antonio Spurs) and Woodard II (Sacramento Kings) gave the Bulldogs three NBA players in 2020-21 for the first time since the 2005-06 season when Erick Dampier (Dallas Mavericks), Lawrence Roberts (Memphis Grizzlies) and Zimmerman (New Jersey Nets) accomplished the feat.
Mississippi State had seven players lace it up in the 2021 NBA Summer League which included Carter (Miami Heat), Holman (Boston Celtics), Peters (Philadelphia 76ers) Perry (Brooklyn Nets), D.J. Stewart Jr. (Miami Heat), Weatherspoon (Brooklyn Nets) and Woodard II (Sacramento Kings).
Mississippi State will look to punch their return ticket to March Madness in 2021-22 led by returnees Iverson Molinar, Tolu Smith, Javian Davis, Derek Fountain and Cameron Matthews. They will be joined by talented transfers in Garrison Brooks, D.J. Jeffries, Shakeel Moore and Rocket Watts along with a skillful freshmen class headed by Alden Applewhite, Cam Carter and KeShawn Murphy.
UCLA • 2004-13
Howland’s decade of achievements at powerhouse UCLA was fueled by seven NCAA Tournament nods, five NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and three consecutive NCAA Final Fours from 2006-08. The Bruins ripped off 97 victories during those three final four campaigns, the most by any UCLA coach in a three-year span. UCLA advanced to the 2006 NCAA Championship Game, the program’s first since winning the 1995 NCAA title.
The Bruins won four Pac-10 regular-season crowns highlighted by three straight from 2006-08. Howland joined the late John Wooden as the only UCLA coaches to lead the Bruins to back-to-back-to-back NCAA Final Fours and became the first coach since Wooden to win three consecutive conferences titles. UCLA climbed to the No. 1 spot multiple times during the 2006-07 season.
Howland compiled a 233-107 overall record and a 121-59 mark in conference play over his 10 seasons in Westwood as UCLA logged top three league finishes on seven occasions. The 35 wins in 2007-08 were a school single-season record after the 32 wins in 2005-06 matched the previous mark set by the 1995 NCAA champions.
The Bruins produced a conference-leading 20 NBA players, and UCLA had a league-best 13 players hear their names called at the NBA Draft during Howland’s tenure. Both totals also ranked among the top five nationally.
Seven players were first-round picks which included Westbrook (2008 – No. 4), Love (2008 – No. 5), Shabazz Muhammad (2013 – No. 14), Holiday (2009 – No. 17), Darren Collison (2009 – No. 21), Farmar (2006 – No. 26) and Arron Afflalo (2007 – No. 27). Jordan Adams (2014 – No. 22) and Kyle Anderson (2014 – No. 30) also were coached by Howland, while Zach LaVine (2014 – No. 13) was signed by Howland at UCLA.
Afflalo (2007) and Love (2008) notched consensus All-America First-Team status and came away with Pac-10 Player of the Year accolades. Westbrook (2008) was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, whereas Farmar (2005), Mbah a Moute (2006), Love (2008) and Muhammad (2013) claimed the league’s freshman of the year.
PITTSBURGH • 2000-03
Prior to his stint on the West Coast, Howland’s rapid turnaround at Pittsburgh was ignited by an 89-40 ledger and back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2002 and 2003. The Panthers tucked away 2002 and 2003 BIG EAST regular season co-championships and the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament crown.
Howland guided Pitt to a 57-11 mark during his NCAA Sweet 16 seasons. The 83.8 winning percentage was second nationally during that period, and the Panthers rose to as high as No. 2 for four weeks in 2002-03. The 29 wins in 2001-02 was a program single-season record at the time which surpassed the previous mark of 25 set in 1973-74.
Howland rattled off consensus national coach of the year recognition in 2001-02, most notably from the Associated Press (AP), Naismith, Sporting News and Henry Iba Award presented by United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). He was the first Pitt coach in any sport to earn a national coach of the year award since football’s Johnny Majors in 1976.
Brandin Knight was a two-time All-American during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, the program’s first since Charles Smith in 1986-87 and 1987-88. He also was named 2001-02 BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year and picked up BIG EAST Most Improved honors. Knight concluded his Pitt career as the program’s record holder in assists and steals.
NORTHERN ARIZONA • 1995-99
Howland’s first head coaching gig was at Northern Arizona where he orchestrated one of the nation’s best turnarounds. His highly successful five-year tenure saw him transform the Lumberjacks from one of the nation’s weakest programs into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender.
Northern Arizona posted three straight 21-win campaigns, which stands as the program’s single-season mark. The Lumberjacks won Big Sky regular season titles in 1996-97 and 1997-98, coupled with back-to-back postseason trips. Charles Thomas and Andrew Mavis took home 1996-97 and 1997-98 Big Sky Most Valuable Player honors, respectively.
Northern Arizona’s win differential between the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons was rated the 10th best single-season turnaround in NCAA history at the time. Howland guided the Lumberjacks to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997-98 as NAU led heavily favored and No. 2 seed Cincinnati for a majority of the game before a last-second three-pointer gave the Bearcats a 65-62 decision.
The Lumberjacks led the nation in three-point field goal percentage during each of Howland’s final three seasons. The 1998-99 team is joined by 2012-13 Weber State as the only teams to top the nation in field goal and three-point field goal percentage during the same season in NCAA history.
The 1997-98 squad was inducted into Northern Arizona’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 before Howland was individually inducted in 2016.
EARLY COACHING CAREER • 1981-94
Howland landed his first coaching job as a graduate assistant for Jay Hillock at Gonzaga in 1981. He coached future NBA Hall of Famer and Utah Jazz guard John Stockton and earned a master’s degree in administration and physical education.
Howland advanced into the assistant coaching ranks at UC Santa Barbara under Ed DeLacy and Jerry Pimm for 12 seasons from 1982-94. He helped the Gauchos to five postseason trips between the 1988 and 1994 seasons highlighted by a 1990 NCAA Tournament win over Houston. Howland also oversaw the development of NBA players Brian Shaw and Conner Henry.
PLAYING CAREER • PERSONAL
Born in Lebanon, Oregon, Howland’s prep career included stops at Dos Pueblos and Cerritos High Schools in California. He was a two-time all-state honoree by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and a two-time Suburban League Most Valuable Player while at Cerritos.
Howland’s college career began at Santa Barbara City College where he was an all-league performer, a team captain and led the Vaqueros to the California state finals in 1978.
A 1979 graduate of Weber State, Howland was named the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player in 1979 and 1980 as the Wildcats captured two Big Sky championships and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. He played professionally for Club Bohemios in Uruguay’s First Division.
Howland and his wife, Kim, a former Weber State cheerleader, have two children – Meredith and Adam – and three grandsons – Benjamin Clark Howland II, Eli and Asher who are the sons of Adam and his wife, Brittney.
Meredith Howland is a pediatric oncology nurse at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, which is one of the nation’s top five pediatric cancer centers. Adam Howland serves as the assistant district attorney in Santa Barbara county.
THE BEN HOWLAND FILE
Birthday • May 28
Hometown • Santa Barbara, California
FAMILY
Wife • Kim (Zahnow)
Children • Adam • Meredith
Grandchildren • Ben II • Eli • Asher
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
High School • Cerritos HS • 1976
College • Weber State • 1979
Graduate School • Gonzaga • 1981
HOWLAND’S COACHING EXPERIENCE
Seasons • School • Position • Years at School
2016-Present • Mississippi State • Head Coach • 5 Seasons
2004-13 • UCLA • Head Coach • 10 Seasons
2000-03 • Pittsburgh • Head Coach • 4 Seasons
1995-99 • Northern Arizona • Head Coach • 5 Seasons
1983-94 • UC Santa Barbara • Assistant Coach • 12 Seasons
1982 • Gonzaga • Graduate Assistant • 1 Season
On-Court Record • 517-288 • 25 Seasons
Overall Record • 500-288 • 25 Seasons
HOWLAND’S NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Season • Honor
2006 • CollegeInsider.com • CollegeHoops.net
2006 • Jim Phelan Award
2002 • AP • ESPN Magazine • Naismith • Sporting News • USBWA
2002 • Henry Iba Award
HOWLAND’S REGION COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Season • Honor
2007 • NABC District 15
2006 • USBWA District 9
2002 • USBWA District 1
HOWLAND’S CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Season • Honor
2006 • Pac-10
2002 • BIG EAST
1997 • Big Sky
HOWLAND’S REGULAR-SEASON CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Season • Conference
2013 • Pac-12 Champions
2006 • 2007 • 2008 • Pac-10 Champions
2002 • 2003 • BIG EAST Co-Champions
1997 • 1998 • Big Sky Champions
HOWLAND’S CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Season • Conference
2006 • 2008 • Pac-10
2003 • BIG EAST
1998 • Big Sky
HOWLAND’S ADDITIONAL HONORS
Season • Honor
2016 • Northern Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame • Individual
2004 • Northern Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame • 1997-98 Team
2003 • Dapper Dan Award • Pittsburgh’s Sportsman of the Year
2002 • City of Champions Award • Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
HOWLAND’S YEAR-BY-YEAR ON-COURT RECORD
NORTHERN ARIZONA • 1995-99
Season • Record • Big Sky Record • Big Sky Finish • Postseason
1994-95 • 9-17 • 4-10 • 7th
1995-96 • 7-19 • 3-11 • 7th
1996-97 • 21-7 • 14-2 • 1st • NIT First Round
1997-98 • 21-8 • 13-3 • 1st • NCAA First Round
1998-99 • 21-8 • 12-4 • 2nd
Overall Record • 79-59 • 5 Seasons
PITTSBURGH • 2000-03
Season • Record • BIG EAST Record • BIG EAST Finish • BIG EAST Division Finish • Postseason
1999-2000 • 13-15 • 5-11 • 11th
2000-01 • 19-14 • 7-9 • 11th • 5th West • NIT Second Round
2001-02 • 29-6 • 13-3 • T-1st • 1st West • NCAA Sweet 16
2002-03 • 28-5 • 13-3 • T-1st • T-1st West • NCAA Sweet 16
Overall Record • 89-40 • 4 Seasons
UCLA • 2004-13
Season • Record • Pac-10/Pac-12 Record • Pac-10/Pac 12 Finish • Postseason
2003-04 • 11-17 • 7-11 • T-7th
2004-05 • 18-11 • 11-7 • T-3rd • NCAA First Round
2005-06 • 32-7 • 14-4 • 1st • NCAA Runner-Up
2006-07 • 30-6 • 15-3 • 1st • NCAA Final Four
2007-08 • 35-4 • 16-2 • 1st • NCAA Final Four
2008-09 • 26-9 • 13-5 • 2nd • NCAA Second Round
2009-10 • 14-18 • 8-10 • T-5th
2010-11 • 23-11 • 13-5 • 2nd • NCAA Second Round
2011-12 • 19-14 • 11-7 • T-5th
2012-13 • 25-10 • 13-5 • 1st • NCAA First Round
Overall Record • 233-107 • 10 Seasons
MISSISSIPPI STATE • 2016-PRESENT
Season • Record • SEC Record • SEC Finish • Postseason
2015-16 • 14-17 • 7-11 • 11th
2016-17 • 16-16 • 6-12 • 12th
2017-18 • 25-12 • 9-9 • 7th • NIT Final Four
2018-19 • 23-11 • 10-8 • T-6th • NCAA First Round
2019-20 • 20-11 • 11-7 • T-4th
2020-21 • 18-15 • 8-10 • 9th • NIT Runner-Up
On-Court Record • 116-82 • 6 Seasons
Overall Record • 99-82 • 5 Seasons
Howland, the most decorated and accomplished coach in school history, has built his career on the foundation of hard work, humility, integrity and service. He has brought stability and a calming influence to the Mississippi State program with an average of 21.5 wins per season over the last four years.
Mississippi State has piled up 86 victories since the start of 2017-18, which is tied for fourth-most among SEC schools over the last four seasons. The Bulldogs also have earned three straight bids to postseason play when postseason tournaments have been played for the first time in nearly a decade, highlighted by a 2019 NCAA Tournament trip and a 2021 NIT Runner-Up finish under Howland’s direction.
Mississippi State has captured 38 SEC wins over the last four seasons, which is the program’s best four-year total in nearly a decade. In 2018-19 and 2019-20, the Bulldogs also secured 10-plus SEC victories in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons under Richard Williams and tucked away the program’s best SEC regular season finish in 2019-20 going back to the 2010-11 campaign.
The 2021-22 campaign marks Howland’s seventh season with the Bulldogs and his 26th season as a head coach.
One of Howland’s signature accomplishments has been the rebuilding stamp he has placed on teams throughout his career. He is a staple of March Madness and one of 15 coaches in NCAA history to lead four programs to the Big Dance.
Howland has enjoyed an unprecedented level of success and compiled an impressive list of accolades which include three straight NCAA Final Four runs in 2006-07-08 and a 2006 NCAA Runner-Up finish at UCLA. He is the only coach in NCAA history to appear in the NCAA Final Four and win at least 30 games during three consecutive seasons.
Howland is joined by Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski as the only active coaches to secure three straight NCAA Final Four berths. He is one of 10 coaches to accomplish the prestigious feat in NCAA history, headed by 10-time national champion John Wooden at UCLA.
Overall, Howland’s teams have amassed 15 postseason appearances, 14 seasons of 20-plus wins, 11 NCAA Tournament bids, eight regular season conference championships and five NCAA Sweet 16 trips. He has garnered seven national coach of the year accolades and collected conference coach of the year honors in three leagues.
Howland’s energetic approach and insatiable drive have helped numerous players achieve their professional dreams. Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday and Zach LaVine spearhead a list of 26 NBA players who have combined for 16 nods to the NBA All-Star Game. LaVine was signed by Howland to play at UCLA. Howland’s 26 NBA players have combined to earn approximately $1.04 billion in career earnings and are slated to make a combined $141.8 million in 2021-22.
Westbrook, a five-time All-NBA First-Team honoree and two-time NBA scoring champion, was the 2017 NBA MVP. He was the first player in league history to average a triple-double for the season since Oscar Robertson during the 1960s and holds the NBA’s all-time record with 184 career triple-doubles through the 2020-21 season.
Trevor Ariza (Los Angeles Lakers • 2009), Love (Cleveland Cavilers • 2016), Norman Powell (Toronto Raptors • 2019) and Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks • 2021) are active players joined by Jordan Farmar (Los Angeles Lakers • 2009 & 2010) who have won NBA Championships.
Love and Westbrook have won gold medals for Team USA at the 2012 Olympics in London, England, while Holiday and LaVine also claimed gold with Team USA at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Howland’s coaching tree has seven former assistant coaches who have later become head coaches at the college level, headed by Jamie Dixon who succeeded him at Pittsburgh and is the current coach of his alma mater, TCU. He left the cupboard fully-stocked as Northern Arizona, Pitt and UCLA each made NCAA Tournament trips the next season following his departure. Pitt racked up a school-record 31 victories and captured an outright BIG EAST regular season crown, while the Panthers and Bruins made runs to the NCAA Sweet 16.
The foundation for Mississippi State’s road back to the 2019 NCAA Tournament was laid by a quartet of 1,000-point scorers in Quinndary Weatherspoon, Tyson Carter, Aric Holman and Lamar Peters.
Weatherspoon, a 2019 All-SEC First-Team pick, wrapped up his career as the only MSU player to dial up over 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 steals. Carter made program history as the first player to secure the SEC’s Sixth-Man of the Year award in 2019-20, while Holman and Peters finished their careers among MSU’s top 10 in blocks and assists, respectively.
Reggie Perry, a top five finalist for the 2020 Karl Malone Award given to the nation’s top forward, came away with All-SEC First-Team accolades in 2019-20. Before Perry, the last player in program history to average a season double-double was NBA First-Round pick Arnett Moultrie in 2011-12.
Perry and Robert Woodard II became the first Mississippi State duo since Mario Austin and Derrick Zimmerman in 2003 to be selected during the same NBA Draft in 2020. Perry (Brooklyn Nets), Weatherspoon (San Antonio Spurs) and Woodard II (Sacramento Kings) gave the Bulldogs three NBA players in 2020-21 for the first time since the 2005-06 season when Erick Dampier (Dallas Mavericks), Lawrence Roberts (Memphis Grizzlies) and Zimmerman (New Jersey Nets) accomplished the feat.
Mississippi State had seven players lace it up in the 2021 NBA Summer League which included Carter (Miami Heat), Holman (Boston Celtics), Peters (Philadelphia 76ers) Perry (Brooklyn Nets), D.J. Stewart Jr. (Miami Heat), Weatherspoon (Brooklyn Nets) and Woodard II (Sacramento Kings).
Mississippi State will look to punch their return ticket to March Madness in 2021-22 led by returnees Iverson Molinar, Tolu Smith, Javian Davis, Derek Fountain and Cameron Matthews. They will be joined by talented transfers in Garrison Brooks, D.J. Jeffries, Shakeel Moore and Rocket Watts along with a skillful freshmen class headed by Alden Applewhite, Cam Carter and KeShawn Murphy.
UCLA • 2004-13
Howland’s decade of achievements at powerhouse UCLA was fueled by seven NCAA Tournament nods, five NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and three consecutive NCAA Final Fours from 2006-08. The Bruins ripped off 97 victories during those three final four campaigns, the most by any UCLA coach in a three-year span. UCLA advanced to the 2006 NCAA Championship Game, the program’s first since winning the 1995 NCAA title.
The Bruins won four Pac-10 regular-season crowns highlighted by three straight from 2006-08. Howland joined the late John Wooden as the only UCLA coaches to lead the Bruins to back-to-back-to-back NCAA Final Fours and became the first coach since Wooden to win three consecutive conferences titles. UCLA climbed to the No. 1 spot multiple times during the 2006-07 season.
Howland compiled a 233-107 overall record and a 121-59 mark in conference play over his 10 seasons in Westwood as UCLA logged top three league finishes on seven occasions. The 35 wins in 2007-08 were a school single-season record after the 32 wins in 2005-06 matched the previous mark set by the 1995 NCAA champions.
The Bruins produced a conference-leading 20 NBA players, and UCLA had a league-best 13 players hear their names called at the NBA Draft during Howland’s tenure. Both totals also ranked among the top five nationally.
Seven players were first-round picks which included Westbrook (2008 – No. 4), Love (2008 – No. 5), Shabazz Muhammad (2013 – No. 14), Holiday (2009 – No. 17), Darren Collison (2009 – No. 21), Farmar (2006 – No. 26) and Arron Afflalo (2007 – No. 27). Jordan Adams (2014 – No. 22) and Kyle Anderson (2014 – No. 30) also were coached by Howland, while Zach LaVine (2014 – No. 13) was signed by Howland at UCLA.
Afflalo (2007) and Love (2008) notched consensus All-America First-Team status and came away with Pac-10 Player of the Year accolades. Westbrook (2008) was named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, whereas Farmar (2005), Mbah a Moute (2006), Love (2008) and Muhammad (2013) claimed the league’s freshman of the year.
PITTSBURGH • 2000-03
Prior to his stint on the West Coast, Howland’s rapid turnaround at Pittsburgh was ignited by an 89-40 ledger and back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 appearances in 2002 and 2003. The Panthers tucked away 2002 and 2003 BIG EAST regular season co-championships and the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament crown.
Howland guided Pitt to a 57-11 mark during his NCAA Sweet 16 seasons. The 83.8 winning percentage was second nationally during that period, and the Panthers rose to as high as No. 2 for four weeks in 2002-03. The 29 wins in 2001-02 was a program single-season record at the time which surpassed the previous mark of 25 set in 1973-74.
Howland rattled off consensus national coach of the year recognition in 2001-02, most notably from the Associated Press (AP), Naismith, Sporting News and Henry Iba Award presented by United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). He was the first Pitt coach in any sport to earn a national coach of the year award since football’s Johnny Majors in 1976.
Brandin Knight was a two-time All-American during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, the program’s first since Charles Smith in 1986-87 and 1987-88. He also was named 2001-02 BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year and picked up BIG EAST Most Improved honors. Knight concluded his Pitt career as the program’s record holder in assists and steals.
NORTHERN ARIZONA • 1995-99
Howland’s first head coaching gig was at Northern Arizona where he orchestrated one of the nation’s best turnarounds. His highly successful five-year tenure saw him transform the Lumberjacks from one of the nation’s weakest programs into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender.
Northern Arizona posted three straight 21-win campaigns, which stands as the program’s single-season mark. The Lumberjacks won Big Sky regular season titles in 1996-97 and 1997-98, coupled with back-to-back postseason trips. Charles Thomas and Andrew Mavis took home 1996-97 and 1997-98 Big Sky Most Valuable Player honors, respectively.
Northern Arizona’s win differential between the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons was rated the 10th best single-season turnaround in NCAA history at the time. Howland guided the Lumberjacks to the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997-98 as NAU led heavily favored and No. 2 seed Cincinnati for a majority of the game before a last-second three-pointer gave the Bearcats a 65-62 decision.
The Lumberjacks led the nation in three-point field goal percentage during each of Howland’s final three seasons. The 1998-99 team is joined by 2012-13 Weber State as the only teams to top the nation in field goal and three-point field goal percentage during the same season in NCAA history.
The 1997-98 squad was inducted into Northern Arizona’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004 before Howland was individually inducted in 2016.
EARLY COACHING CAREER • 1981-94
Howland landed his first coaching job as a graduate assistant for Jay Hillock at Gonzaga in 1981. He coached future NBA Hall of Famer and Utah Jazz guard John Stockton and earned a master’s degree in administration and physical education.
Howland advanced into the assistant coaching ranks at UC Santa Barbara under Ed DeLacy and Jerry Pimm for 12 seasons from 1982-94. He helped the Gauchos to five postseason trips between the 1988 and 1994 seasons highlighted by a 1990 NCAA Tournament win over Houston. Howland also oversaw the development of NBA players Brian Shaw and Conner Henry.
PLAYING CAREER • PERSONAL
Born in Lebanon, Oregon, Howland’s prep career included stops at Dos Pueblos and Cerritos High Schools in California. He was a two-time all-state honoree by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and a two-time Suburban League Most Valuable Player while at Cerritos.
Howland’s college career began at Santa Barbara City College where he was an all-league performer, a team captain and led the Vaqueros to the California state finals in 1978.
A 1979 graduate of Weber State, Howland was named the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player in 1979 and 1980 as the Wildcats captured two Big Sky championships and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. He played professionally for Club Bohemios in Uruguay’s First Division.
Howland and his wife, Kim, a former Weber State cheerleader, have two children – Meredith and Adam – and three grandsons – Benjamin Clark Howland II, Eli and Asher who are the sons of Adam and his wife, Brittney.
Meredith Howland is a pediatric oncology nurse at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, which is one of the nation’s top five pediatric cancer centers. Adam Howland serves as the assistant district attorney in Santa Barbara county.
THE BEN HOWLAND FILE
Birthday • May 28
Hometown • Santa Barbara, California
FAMILY
Wife • Kim (Zahnow)
Children • Adam • Meredith
Grandchildren • Ben II • Eli • Asher
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
High School • Cerritos HS • 1976
College • Weber State • 1979
Graduate School • Gonzaga • 1981
HOWLAND’S COACHING EXPERIENCE
Seasons • School • Position • Years at School
2016-Present • Mississippi State • Head Coach • 5 Seasons
2004-13 • UCLA • Head Coach • 10 Seasons
2000-03 • Pittsburgh • Head Coach • 4 Seasons
1995-99 • Northern Arizona • Head Coach • 5 Seasons
1983-94 • UC Santa Barbara • Assistant Coach • 12 Seasons
1982 • Gonzaga • Graduate Assistant • 1 Season
On-Court Record • 517-288 • 25 Seasons
Overall Record • 500-288 • 25 Seasons
HOWLAND’S NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Season • Honor
2006 • CollegeInsider.com • CollegeHoops.net
2006 • Jim Phelan Award
2002 • AP • ESPN Magazine • Naismith • Sporting News • USBWA
2002 • Henry Iba Award
HOWLAND’S REGION COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Season • Honor
2007 • NABC District 15
2006 • USBWA District 9
2002 • USBWA District 1
HOWLAND’S CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Season • Honor
2006 • Pac-10
2002 • BIG EAST
1997 • Big Sky
HOWLAND’S REGULAR-SEASON CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Season • Conference
2013 • Pac-12 Champions
2006 • 2007 • 2008 • Pac-10 Champions
2002 • 2003 • BIG EAST Co-Champions
1997 • 1998 • Big Sky Champions
HOWLAND’S CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Season • Conference
2006 • 2008 • Pac-10
2003 • BIG EAST
1998 • Big Sky
HOWLAND’S ADDITIONAL HONORS
Season • Honor
2016 • Northern Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame • Individual
2004 • Northern Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame • 1997-98 Team
2003 • Dapper Dan Award • Pittsburgh’s Sportsman of the Year
2002 • City of Champions Award • Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
HOWLAND’S YEAR-BY-YEAR ON-COURT RECORD
NORTHERN ARIZONA • 1995-99
Season • Record • Big Sky Record • Big Sky Finish • Postseason
1994-95 • 9-17 • 4-10 • 7th
1995-96 • 7-19 • 3-11 • 7th
1996-97 • 21-7 • 14-2 • 1st • NIT First Round
1997-98 • 21-8 • 13-3 • 1st • NCAA First Round
1998-99 • 21-8 • 12-4 • 2nd
Overall Record • 79-59 • 5 Seasons
PITTSBURGH • 2000-03
Season • Record • BIG EAST Record • BIG EAST Finish • BIG EAST Division Finish • Postseason
1999-2000 • 13-15 • 5-11 • 11th
2000-01 • 19-14 • 7-9 • 11th • 5th West • NIT Second Round
2001-02 • 29-6 • 13-3 • T-1st • 1st West • NCAA Sweet 16
2002-03 • 28-5 • 13-3 • T-1st • T-1st West • NCAA Sweet 16
Overall Record • 89-40 • 4 Seasons
UCLA • 2004-13
Season • Record • Pac-10/Pac-12 Record • Pac-10/Pac 12 Finish • Postseason
2003-04 • 11-17 • 7-11 • T-7th
2004-05 • 18-11 • 11-7 • T-3rd • NCAA First Round
2005-06 • 32-7 • 14-4 • 1st • NCAA Runner-Up
2006-07 • 30-6 • 15-3 • 1st • NCAA Final Four
2007-08 • 35-4 • 16-2 • 1st • NCAA Final Four
2008-09 • 26-9 • 13-5 • 2nd • NCAA Second Round
2009-10 • 14-18 • 8-10 • T-5th
2010-11 • 23-11 • 13-5 • 2nd • NCAA Second Round
2011-12 • 19-14 • 11-7 • T-5th
2012-13 • 25-10 • 13-5 • 1st • NCAA First Round
Overall Record • 233-107 • 10 Seasons
MISSISSIPPI STATE • 2016-PRESENT
Season • Record • SEC Record • SEC Finish • Postseason
2015-16 • 14-17 • 7-11 • 11th
2016-17 • 16-16 • 6-12 • 12th
2017-18 • 25-12 • 9-9 • 7th • NIT Final Four
2018-19 • 23-11 • 10-8 • T-6th • NCAA First Round
2019-20 • 20-11 • 11-7 • T-4th
2020-21 • 18-15 • 8-10 • 9th • NIT Runner-Up
On-Court Record • 116-82 • 6 Seasons
Overall Record • 99-82 • 5 Seasons
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Transfer Players Media Session - 7/17/25
Thursday, July 17
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Media Session - 6/5/25
Thursday, June 05
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Shawn Jones Jr. Media Session - 6/5/25
Thursday, June 05
MEN'S BASKETBALL | NCAA TOURNAMENT | First Round Postgame Press Conference vs. Baylor 03/21/25
Friday, March 21
