UCLA officially parts ways with men's basketball coach Ben Howland

By Jack Wang, Staff Writer

Posted:   03/24/2013 07:06:36 PM PDT

Updated:   03/24/2013 07:11:40 PM PDT

UCLA coach Ben Howland talks to his players during the second half of a second-round game of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 22, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

UCLA officially fired men's basketball coach Ben Howland, the school announced Sunday evening.

The 10 th-year Bruins head coach leaves Westwood as the second-winningest head coach in program history after John Wooden, compiling a 233-107 record. He is also one of three coaches to reach three straight Final Fours since the NCAA tournament field expanded to 64.

"I want to thank Ben for all that he has done for UCLA in his 10 seasons in Westwood," athletic director Dan Guerrero said in a statement. "He embraced our tradition and culture and produced some terrific teams and coached a number of wonderful young men. We wish Ben and his family all the best as they move onto a new chapter in their lives."

"I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach at UCLA for 10 years," Howland said in a statement, "and I will always be grateful to Dan Guerrero and Chancellors Block, Abrams and Carnesale for the opportunity to coach and teach our players and work alongside tremendous coaches.

"The UCLA community and fans have been unbelievable to my family and I, and it's been an honor and privilege to represent this great institution. I look forward to what comes next."

The news followed numerous reports that Howland's departure was imminent, with Yahoo! Sports reporting Saturday evening that the 10 th-year Bruins coach had already been notified. The school initially refuted the reports late Saturday night.

Howland is five years removed from three consecutive Final Fours, but his recent track record has been less than exemplary. The Bruins have not advanced past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament since their Final Four berth in 2008, and have missed the field entirely twice in the past four years.


An 83-63 NCAA second-round loss to 11 th-seeded Minnesota on Friday ended this season on a down note.

UCLA had won a regular-season Pac-12 title, but soon lost second-leading Jordan Adams to a broken foot in the conference tournament. The injury made the Bruins underdogs in Austin, Texas on despite a No. 6 seed.

UCLA generated preseason talk as a dark-horse Final Four contender, but that hype fizzled almost immediately.

Shabazz Muhammad, the gem of the Bruins' top-ranked recruiting class, was suspended for the first three games of the season, and needed to work his way back into shape. Two former starters transferred out in November.

Although he was named Pac-12 Co-Freshman of the Year, Muhammad was also dogged by controversy along the way. In late January, A Yahoo! Sports columnist questioned his ability to pay for a Gucci backpack - later ruled a gift from his family. He also drew criticism in February for not openly celebrating teammate Larry Drew II's game-winning buzzer beater against Washington.

Widely expected to enter the NBA draft, his season finale was prefaced by a revelation in the Los Angeles Times that he was not 19, as officially listed, but 20 years old. Muhammad denied ever trying to falsify his age.

Howland fired by UCLA

By RYAN KARTJE / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: March 24, 2013 Updated: 8:04 p.m.

LOS ANGELES – After spending 10 years as UCLA's basketball coach – a span that included three consecutive Final Four appearances and the most triumphs of any Bruins coach since John Wooden put the program on the map – Ben Howland was fired Sunday night.

The decision had been widely anticipated since the Bruins went out with a whimper in a 20-point loss to Minnesota in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But even before the loss, Howland's reputation among the UCLA fan base had unmistakably gone sour, despite him having pulled in the nation's No. 1 recruiting class before the season and followed with a Pac-12 regular season title this season.

UCLA coach Ben Howland has been fired, the schoolannounced Sunday.

ERIC GAY, AP

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The last few seasons had been tumultuous, to say the least, for Howland and the UCLA basketball program, as the Bruins failed to make the NCAA Tournament in two of the last four years. Last season, those struggles came to a head when a Sports Illustrated story illustrated a lack of institutional control from Howland and portrayed his program as one with deteriorating values, highlighted by the bullying of former Bruin Reeves Nelson.

UCLA's fan base showed its discontent with Howland by not coming out to games this season, as the program's attendance numbers continued to fall in the 2012-13 season. In the end, the perfect storm of attendance, reputation, and very little NCAA Tournament success was enough to doom Howland after 10 seasons.

Still, in that decade-long era, Howland had undoubtedly been one of the most successful basketball coaches in school history.

Hired before the 2003-04 season after UCLA parted ways with Steve Lavin, Howland – a Santa Barbara native – came to Westwood from Pittsburgh after leading the Panthers to consecutive Sweet 16's and winning national coach of the year in 2002. After one season of missing the NCAA Tournament and another that ended in a first-round loss, Howland then took his next three Bruins teams to consecutive Final Fours with the help of future NBA players like Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, and Darren Collison. Still, in all three Final Four tries, Howland's teams fell short of winning UCLA's first national title since 1995.

But since Howland became one of just three active coaches to make it to three consecutive Final Fours – joining Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski – his teams have been marked by inconsistencies and a failure to live up to the high expectations he had set in those three seasons. In 2009, despite having two future pros in Collison and Jrue Holiday, the Bruins fell in the tournament's second round. From there, Howland's teams finished the next three seasons 56-52, as his seat grew hotter.

UCLA fires basketball coach Ben Howland

The Bruins' longest-tenured coach since the retirement of John Wooden in 1975 exits after another successful but tumultuous season.

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Ben Howland instructs the Bruins during a game against Arizona. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times/ March 2, 2013)

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By Chris FosterLA Times

March 24, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

Ben Howland, who led UCLA to three Final Four appearances, was fired Sunday, the school announced, ending the longest tenure for a Bruins coach since John Wooden retired in 1975.

Howland spent 10 seasons in Westwood and is coming off one of his best coaching performances, with the Bruins winning the Pac-12 Conference regular-season championship. Yet his star had fallen considerably since taking UCLA to consecutive Final Fours from 2006-08. He was informed Sunday that he was fired.

UCLA needed to go deep into the NCAA tournament to save Howland's job. The Bruins were bounced by Minnesota, 83-63, in their first game Friday in Austin, Texas.

IN-DEPTH: Shabazz Muhammad's father planned to mint NBA star

Howland's contract, which runs through 2017, has a $3.2-million buyout -- 2.3-million for his 2013-14 pay and $900,000 for his remaining base pay.

In a statement released by UCLA, Howland said, "I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach at UCLA for 10 years and I will always be grateful to Dan Guerrero and Chancellors Block, Abrams and Carnesale for the opportunity to coach and teach our players and work alongside tremendous coaches. The UCLA community and fans have been unbelievable to my family and I, and it's been an honor and privilege to represent this great institution. I look forward to what comes next."

UCLA officials are interested in Virginia Commonwealth's Shaka Smart and Butler's Brad Stevens, according to a person familiar with the athletic department who was not authorized to speak. Neither are likely to be pried away easily, if at all.

Failing that, UCLA officials might seek a former NBA coach, the person familiar with the athletic department said.

Howland's popularity dropped as the Bruins' success under him waned. UCLA reached the NCAA tournament only twice in the last four seasons.

There was criticism about his tight-fisted control, both in games and with the team and staff. There were concerns about the number of players who transferred, though only a few found success elsewhere: Drew Gordon (New Mexico), Mike Moser (UNLV), Chace Stanback (UNLV) and Matt Carlino (BYU).

The tipping point came a year ago after a Sports Illustrated story painted a program that was out of control. Howland and Guerrero met at the end of the 2011-12 season and there were promises of change.

Howland was viewed as having one season to convince Guerrero to retain him. He brought in the nation's No. 2 recruiting class, but a season of constant turmoil followed.

Freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad went through a lengthy NCAA investigation and wasn't cleared to play until three games into the season.

Freshman center Tony Parker had a series of injuries and was slow to develop.

Guard Tyler Lamb and center Joshua Smith transferred in November, sapping the Bruins' depth. Smith was also UCLA's most formidable inside player.

Still, Howland was able to win his fourth conference championship, more than any UCLA coach other than John Wooden. The Bruins' postseason chances were dealt a blow when freshman guard Jordan Adams, the team's second-leading scorer, broke his right foot in the Pac-12 tournament semifinals.

UCLA officials are also concerned about ticket sales at renovated Pauley Pavilion. Only five crowds topped 10,000 this season despite the Bruins chasing the conference title with an up-tempo style.

The Pauley Pavilion renovation cost $138 million. UCLA officials need the arena to be a cash cow. New season tickets buyers, or season ticket holders who want an upgrade, must also make a per ticket donation to the Wooden Athletic Fund ranging from $100 to $17,000 for priority-seating areas.

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter.com/cfosterlatimes

It's Official. Coach Howland out at UCLA.

UCLA Relieves Ben Howland of Duties as Head Men's Basketball Coach

Ben Howland compiled 233-107 record in 10 seasons at UCLA

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Ben Howland

March 24, 2013

UCLA Men's Basketball

LOS ANGELES - The University of California Los Angeles has relieved Head Men's Basketball Coach Ben Howland of his duties effective immediately and a national search for his successor has begun. Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero informed Coach Howland of the decision this afternoon.

"I want to thank Ben for all that he has done for UCLA in his ten seasons in Westwood," said Guerrero. "He embraced our tradition and culture and produced some terrific teams and coached a number of wonderful young men. We wish Ben and his family all the best as they move onto a new chapter in their lives."

In 10 seasons in Westwood, Howland compiled a 233-107 record, with seven NCAA Tournament berths, including a string of three Final Fours from 2006-2008.

"I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach at UCLA for 10 years and I will always be grateful to Dan Guerrero and Chancellors Block, Abrams and Carnesale for the opportunity to coach and teach our players and work alongside tremendous coaches," Howland said. "The UCLA community and fans have been unbelievable to my family and I, and it's been an honor and privilege to represent this great institution. I look forward to what comes next."

Thanks for everything, Coach!!! 

All the best for the future!!!

Ben Howland, Bruins would be better off severing ties

VINCENT BONSIGNORE on UCLA BASKETBALL: Ben Howland, Bruins would be better off severing ties

By Vincent Bonsignore, Columnist

Long Beach Press-Telegram

Posted:   03/24/2013 12:16:06 AM PDT

Updated:   03/24/2013 12:23:27 AM PDT

If the reports are true, and most UCLA basketball observers could see it coming since December, the firing of Bruins basketball coach Ben Howland is met with a mixture of disappointment, relief and bewilderment.

It's never a good thing to see a good coach get fired.

But when that coach has been twisting in the wind as long as Howland has, it's best for everyone to move on.

Meanwhile, how can a quality coach like Howland crash and burn as quickly and decisively as he did?

The same coach who restored order in Westwood, leading the Bruins to three straight NCAA Final Fours at one point, couldn't get them past the second round five consecutive years?

Why?

The same coach who recruited elite players like Jordan Farmar, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday also couldn't keep those players on campus more than one or two years.

The same coach who could attract other elite players to Westwood was also the coach who couldn't get along with them enough or get through to them enough to convince them to stick around - and worse, was the reason they fled to other schools where many of them flourished and excelled, while the Bruins languished.

It never made any sense.

And it's still a riddle wrapped in a puzzle.

Howland, the same coach who led UCLA back to prominence, not only couldn't keep them there he became the very reason they kept falling and falling and falling.

Until UCLA had no other choice

but to buy his contract out, reportedly, and begin a search for a new leader.

The whys and how's of Howland's fall will be analyzed for years.

He seemed inflexible at times, too stuck in his ways. He wanted to grind games to a halt when today's kids want to run and gun and express themselves.

His communication skills always seemed an issue, the inability to connect and relate to modern players all too obvious in the way kids came, saw and immediately left.

He tried to change, it seems, but it seemed forced and disingenuous and you never got the feeling he embraced it.

Howland is who he is, and while that worked in the beginning it became his demise by the end.
His reluctance to embrace change, to be flexible enough to transform with the times, was a fatal flaw.

It showed in the multiple transfers over the years and the star players leaving almost as soon as they got here.

And it showed in how his teams got worse over the years, not better.

Which is sad.

Howland is a good coach. We all know that.

But by the end, he was the wrong coach for UCLA.


vincent.bonsignore@dailynews.com twitter.com/DailyNewsVinny

Howland reportedly dismissed but UCLA denies it

BY RYAN KARTJE / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Published: March 23, 2013 Updated: 11:53 p.m.

LOS ANGELES – Just one day after hopes of an NCAA Tournament run dissolved in Austin, Texas, in a blowout loss to Minnesota, Ben Howland has been fired after 10 years as UCLA's basketball coach, according to multiple reports.

Reports of his dismissal had been buzzing since the Bruins' loss Friday night, and Saturday those rumors seem to reach a head in Westwood. A Yahoo! Sports report initially claimed the longtime UCLA coach had been informed of his dismissal and added that the decision is expected to be announced soon – possibly Sunday. Another report on FOXSports.com also claimed Howland had been fired.

According to multiple sources UCLA has notified Ben Howland that he will no longer coach the UCLA Bruins.

JEFF GROSS, GETTY IMAGES

UCLA officials issued this statement through Athletics spokesman Nick Ammazzalorso late Saturday night: "Contrary to multiple media reports this evening, UCLA has not fired men's basketball coach Ben Howland."

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said little in a brief postgame interview Friday with Sports Illustrated, as he told the magazine, "We'll take stock in the next couple of days and talk like we always do with all coaches."

Howland, who has two years left on his contract that includes a $2.3 million buyout, refused to talk about his job status after the Bruins' loss. But as he left the court after the defeat – even after delivering the nation's top recruiting class to UCLA and winning a Pac-12 regular-season title – it was almost certain that after the tournament-opening loss, this was Howland's last moment on the court with his team.

Trailing just the legendary John Wooden in victories as a UCLA coach, Howland took UCLA to three consecutive Final Fours in his tenure. Only two other active coaches – Michigan State's Tom Izzo and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski — can stake such a claim.

But after that magnificent stretch, the Bruins struggled in the next three seasons, finishing 56-52. That span was also marred by a Sports Illustrated article that painted Howland as having a lack of institutional control. The longtime UCLA coach lost multiple players to transfers and was perceived to have a lost a step in recruiting Los Angeles – an integral part of being a successful coach in Southern California.

In the end, it seemed, Howland's reputation and coaching style had soured among the Bruins fan base, and with a first-round blowout in the NCAA Tournament, it seems the athletic department is ready to move fast on making a change coaching change.

Several reports link Virginia Commonwealth coach Shaka Smart's name to UCLA, as it is believed the up-and-coming mid-major coach will be at the top of UCLA's list of potential new coaches. Reports have also mentioned Florida's Billy Donovan, Butler's Brad Stevens, Villanova's Jay Wright and N.C. State's Mark Gottfried (a former UCLA assistant) as possible candidates.

"My focus is completely on our guys, our seniors, our underclassmen getting them ready to be better than they were today," Smart told CBSSports.com. "There's a lot of growth that we need to occur at VCU, and I'm excited to be a part of that."

Howland's players also claimed after Friday's game they're just going to use a wait-and-see approach when it comes to the future of the program.

"It doesn't affect the team," freshman Shabazz Muhammad said. "It's something that is not our business and it's something we have to go by, so we are just going to see what happens."

While Muhammad's career is likely over at UCLA, whomever is hired in Howland's place will need to focus his attention immediately on retaining the talent the Bruins already have.

MUHAMMAD'S AGE

After an L.A. Times report Friday brought to light the strange and shocking fact that freshman phenom and No. 1 recruit Muhammad is 20 years old – not 19, as his family led UCLA and others to believe – Muhammad was standoffish when asked about the story after Friday night's loss.

The report had insinuated that Muhammad's father, Ron Holmes, had lied about his son's age to ensure that he would be showcased against younger, weaker talent in high school.

Holmes initially denied the validity of the claim that he lied about the correct age, only to confess later.

"I don't even know what the big deal was," Muhammad said.

"I'm just worried about playing basketball. ... I don't care about my age. I'm in college. I'm still one of the youngest players in college, so what does it matter?"

Holmes could not be reached to comment.

Contact the writer: rkartje@ocregister.com