Howland Inks New 7-Year Agreement With UCLA
By Bruin Basketball Report
UCLA head men’s basketball coach Ben Howland and the University have agreed on a new seven-year contract, athletic director Dan Guerrero announced today. The new contract, which runs through the 2014-15 season, includes guaranteed compensation of $1.97 million for the 2008-09 season and escalates to $2.3 million for the 2014-15 season. It also includes the incentive package from his previous contract that has a maximum value of $235,000.
In 2007-08, UCLA set a school record for victories en route to a mark of 35-4 and a third consecutive Final Four appearance. Since the NCAA Tournament bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985, UCLA is one of just four schools to earn three straight Final Four berths (Michigan State in 1999-01 was the last to do so). UCLA has also won three straight Pac-10 titles, making Howland the first Bruin coach since John Wooden to win three straight league championships, and two of the last three Pac-10 Post-Season Tournaments.
Howland is also one of just three coaches in the history of college basketball to win at least 30 games in three consecutive seasons. He has also produced four NBA first-round draft choices in the last three seasons, including the fourth and fifth selections in the 2008 draft.
“Ben Howland and UCLA are a great combination,” said Guerrero. “Ben is at the top of his profession and is deserving of this commitment by the University. He has returned UCLA to the nation’s elite, as illustrated by three straight Finals Fours and three consecutive 30-win seasons. He is an outstanding recruiter, and the foundation Ben has built for our program promises to keep us at the forefront for the foreseeable future.”
“I have said this before, but there is no place I would rather be coaching than UCLA,” said Howland, 51. “I grew up a Bruin basketball fan and this is my dream job. We have great young men in our program, both on and off the field, and they are the real reasons for our success. UCLA is a special name in college basketball thanks to Coach Wooden and I am proud to be the caretaker of his program. I am also grateful to Chancellor (Gene) Block and Dan for the faith they continue to show in me.”
[UCLA Press Release]
(photo credit: AP)
Labels: Coach Ben Howland
BBR :: Article Link :: 3:45 AM ::
11 comments
11 Comments:
Way to go DG for locking up the next Wooden...Exciting times!!!!!
This is better news than any. BH is the face of today's Bruins and 25 years from now will be looked upon as we now reflect upon COACH. Congrats UCLA for securing this quality leader.
Congrats & Well-deserved! We are very pleased and honor to have Ben Howland to be our Coach and leader for years to come.
Let's keep it rolling...Go Bruins.
Well deserved. I'm glad they're rewarding Coach Ben's hard work & results.
Kudos to Coach Ben & the athletic department, they are building quite the program, and the right way, I might add...I feel very good about the Bruin Nation going forward!
Great. Done deal. Glad they took care of him. Cheers to more of the same (and then some).
Hey... what gives? According to scout.com, Lance Stephenson no longer has an offer!!!???
Bruin Nation ***NEWSFLASH - This just in from Westbrook's Draft Party at Club Mood in Hollywood last night (Tuesday).
I saw the following people.
Trevor Ariza
Michael Roll
Chase Stanback standing outside
Lorenzo Mata outside
Abdul Rahim outside
Moose Bailey
Kareem Abdul Jabbar Jr.
Talked to Moose and he said he just finished law school. He mentioned Toby is playing in Spain and it is his first year there. He absolutely loves it.
That's all....
Bruinfan - Thanks for that!! Did Lorenzo say anything about his plans?
I gave him a handshake on my way out as he was yelling to Westbroook to come in.... and I said "Thank you...It takes a man to do what you did your Senior year!!" (for the non-faithful... he became 2nd string to Love after being a starter on teams that went to the Final Four the years prior)"
I pretty much thanked him from all of us. It was as sincere and genuine as I could get.
To answer your question...I saw somewhere he tried out for a Japanese team in Vegas...not sure about that...
BBR, where and when can I go watch pick up games on campus??? Days/Times...on the down low or what???
BruinFan,
AWESOME info. Love how moose bailey is still hanging around. Such good news about Howland and SOOO appreciative of the job he has done and the structure he has created. Everyone who goes to the program leaves their egos at the door and believe me knowone is above howland. Absolutely LOVE it and the fact that he doesn't fear any of his players or worry what they think just makes him that much more effective and he operates that program like a well-oiled machine. So glad we paid him and hope we keep him around for a long time!! Go Bruins!!
What else can you say!!! Great program, great man! A real winner as his all that play for him!
Now let's hope we can say this about the football program in about 3 or 4 years!
July 3rd, just windin' down from work, I think it's okay to "offically" dip into the bottle of Captain Morgan in my desk.
Have a great Independence Day everyone!
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