HOWLAND COMING HOME UCLA HAS DEAL SET WITH PITT COACH.Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer Pittsburgh coach Ben Howland Ben Howland (born May 28, 1957 in Lebanon, Oregon) is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and recently signed a contract extension through 2013. reached an agreement in principle Tuesday to become the next basketball coach at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX and is expected to be introduced by the school at a press conference later this week, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. two sources close to the negotiations. ``In concept, it's done,'' said one source. Howland, who met with Pittsburgh officials Tuesday, is expected to arrive in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. today - either by commercial plane or the same private jet that took him to Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. over the weekend to meet with UCLA athletic director Athletic director (commonly, "athletics director") is a position at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, which oversees the work of the coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic Dan Guerrero and associate athletic director Betsy Stephenson. Once in town, Howland will meet either early today with UCLA chancellor Albert Carnesale Albert (Al) Carnesale (born July 2, 1936) is an American academic, formerly chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles and provost of Harvard University. He has been involved in international diplomacy related to nuclear non-proliferation. , who is scheduled to be in Oakland tonight on university business. The meeting with Carnesale is the last hurdle to be cleared, though this is considered a formality, according to sources. Carnesale has told acquaintances recently that this will be Guerrero's hire not his, a source said. If all goes well, a press conference introducing Howland would be held Thursday or Friday, but could also be staged today. A UCLA spokesman said Tuesday that no press conference has been planned. Sources wouldn't reveal the terms of the contract, but UCLA was expecting to offer a multi-year deal worth $850,000 per year with incentives that could push it over $1 million. Howland made $800,000 a year at Pittsburgh and Boehm was prepared to pay him more than $1 million annually through 2008-09. Details of the contract were worked out between Guerrero and Jordan Bazant, an agent who is representing Howland. The two began negotiations by phone on Monday before Bazant caught an evening flight from his offices in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of to Los Angeles, where the talks progressed face-to-face Tuesday. Among the issues that had to be settled was absorbing the cost of Howland's buyout, believed to be about $500,000, and the salaries of his staff - always a concern given the cost of living in L.A. The buyout, according to sources, will be absorbed in part by Adidas, the shoe and apparel company that has a six-year, $19 million contract with UCLA. Adidas executive Sonny Vacarro, a close friend of Howland who helped him land the Pittsburgh job, is among those Guerrero has spoken to in recent weeks. While Guerrero listened to people pushing candidates that ranged from Stanford coach Mike Montgomery To see the defensive end on the Green Bay Packers see Michael Montgomery Mike Montgomery (born February 27 1947 in Long Beach, California, United States) is the former head coach of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. to Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight, the only one he's believed to have spoken to is Howland. Jamie Dixon Jamie Dixon (b. November 10, 1965 in Burbank, California) is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He first became a head coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 2003, and has an overall record of 105-30. , Howland's top assistant, interviewed for the head coaching job at Wright State on Tuesday and plans to do the same for the Illinois State job. Dixon, a native of Sherman Oaks, could join Howland's staff at UCLA as could Chris Carlson, Pittsburgh's director of basketball operations who played at UC Santa Barbara. Howland, a Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, native who grew up in Goleta and Cerritos, has coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. the job for some time. Still, Pittsburgh has tried to keep him. It rewarded Howland last spring with a seven-year deal worth slightly more than $700,000 this season - his third contract in as many years - and tendered another deal thisweek in an effort to hold on to him. Howland, 45, is viewed as one of the up-and-coming coaches in college basketball College basketball most often refers to the American basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA. History
He graduated from the University of the Pacific in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in biology. - a highly successful Division II coach instead. Howland, a long-time assistant at UC Santa Barbara, he became a headcoach for the first time in 1993 at North Arizona. After winning just 16 games in two seasons, Howland's next three teams each won 21 games. Pittsburgh then hired Howland to replace Ralph Willard in 1999-00 and after two years of molding the Panthers, they zoomed to 57 victories and a pair of Sweet 16 appearances. Howland's departure would be Pitt's second major personnel loss in only four months. Athletic director Steve Pederson left for alma mater Nebraska in December after overhauling Pitt's athletic program. He made numerous personnel changes, built the new basketball arena and football practice facility, and tore down Pitt Stadium, moving the Panthers' home football games to Heinz Field. Howland said last week that Pauley Pavilion needs substantial upgrades that might force the Bruins to play one season off-campus. However, lining up the money for an upgraded arena at a state-supported university might prove difficult in the immediate future, especially given the current economic climate. According to an Associated Press report, Howland was spotted in his office at the University of Pittsburgh at 9 p.m. EST Tuesday and had not informed athletic director Marc Boehm that he would be resigning. He did say goodbye to some friends and one of his players said, ``I think he's leaving.'' Pittsburgh reportedly has started to make contingency plans to replace Howland. Officials met with Dixon about the coaching job. The Associated Press contributed to this report. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Ben Howland is expected to fly into Los Angeles today to sign a contract as the new basketball coach at UCLA, replacing Steve Lavin. (2) Ben Howland has a career roecord of 168-99 as a head coach and has appeared in Three NCAA tournaments. Gary Tramontina/Associated Press |
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