Is Former UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland Heading To Mississippi State?
Former UCLA head basketball coach Ben Howland may be getting back into coaching. Social Media went ablaze earlier today when news came out that the defensive-minded coach could be heading to Mississippi State as their new coach. It would be the first coaching position Howland would have since being let go by UCLA after the 2012-13 season.
Ben Howland has emerged as the frontrunner and is in discussions to take the Mississippi State job, sources told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 22, 2015
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Mississippi State fired former coach Rick Ray yesterday after he went 13-19 in his third season. The Bulldogs immediately went on the hunt for their next coach and might land a gem. Howland would indeed be a step up for the Bulldogs if they hired him and would bring a grind it out style of hoops to the SEC, which is currently dominated by Kentucky.
At UCLA, Howland quickly instilled a sense of change through tough hard-nosed defensive basketball which resulted in taking the Bruins to three straight Final Fours. He also won four Pac-12 Conference championships and two Pac-12 Tournament championships and ended his reign in Westwood with a 233 -107 record.
Howland also developed several players that have not only made it to the NBA but are doing quite well for themselves including Arron Afflalo, Kevin Love and potential MVP Russell Westbrook.
If hired, expect Howland to turn Mississippi State into a perennial powerhouse within a few short years.