Saturday, March 3, 2012

After Sports Illustrated expose paints coach Howland in negative light, questions about future arise

After Sports Illustrated expose paints coach Howland in negative light, questions about future arise

Daily Bruin
Published March 1, 2012, 1:30 am in Men's BasketballSports
Ben Howland was portrayed in an unflattering light in Sports Illustrated’s story “Not the UCLA Way” and questions about his future and that of his UCLA men’s basketball program began immediately.

“Obviously this is not a great day for our program and of course for me,” Howland said Wednesday following the publishing of the story.

“I’m responsible for this program and everything that happens in it. And if there’s any need to make changes, I will make them.”

The SI story places the brunt of the blame on Howland for UCLA’s quick descent to mediocrity since three straight seasons of reaching the Final Four, including a loss in the National Championship game in 2006.

Athletic director Dan Guerrero was faced with a battery of questions regarding Howland’s job status as coach of the regressing Bruins. Guerrero gave no assurances to Howland’s long-term future, saying only that he had faith in Howland’s abilities as coach.

“We just read the article today and there are some issues that are evident in there that have to be discussed,” Guerrero said.

“Before I make comments about the long-term future, those things need to be sorted out.”

Guerrero wouldn’t comment on possible discipline for Howland and said he would further address Howland’s status after the Bruins conclude their season.

UCLA plays Washington State tonight at the Sports Arena and concludes its regular season on Saturday against Washington. The Bruins will have to win four games in four days at the Pac-12 Tournament to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons.

Howland signed a seven-year contract extension following the Bruins’ third straight Final Four appearance in 2008. While Guerrero could not give a guarantee that Howland will see the end of his contract in 2015, UCLA’s ninth-year coach felt comfortable looking to the future.

“I’m very confident of my abilities to lead this program in the future and feel very good about our current recruiting class and the kids we’re involved with right now,” Howland said.

Howland is alleged to have been light on discipline with his rule-breaking star players, creating an atmosphere devoid of accountability and eventually losing control.

The story also portrays Howland as an eccentric personality that verbally abuses staff members and lesser players.

Howland harshly disputed an allegation that he was not concerned with team camaraderie off the court.

“If you talked to my former players,” said Howland, running through the list of stops in his coaching career, “I would think that actually not be considered to be accurate. That’s hurtful.”

His former players, including Michael Roll and Lorenzo Mata-Real, took to Twitter to defend their former coach, instead shifting the blame on his rogue players.

“Coaches can’t control how people act while theyre in their dorm … or at parties after games,” said Roll, a UCLA guard from 2005 to 2009, on his personal Twitter account.
“He supplied us with the work ethic and leadership needed to get the job done.”

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