Introduction to Ben Howland’s Gratitude

Ben Howland planned it like this. Of course he did. This was a coach so engrossed in details that he would grumble about the room temperature at news conferences and call a timeout when his team was in the middle of a big run just so that he could set up his defense. So it should come as no surprise that before his 10-year run as UCLA’s basketball coach ended in 2013, Howland had schemed for his dream retirement.

Planning for Retirement

In 2011, he bought a four-bedroom, ranch-style house in his native Santa Barbara close to so many old friends and family, knowing the full remodel job would take years. The Howlands moved in three years ago, after the coach’s final season at Mississippi State. The home is now his departure point for frequent trips to see another old friend — the program he guided to back-to-back-to-back Final Fours from 2006-08. Howland likes to leave many hours before tipoff, arranging his schedule so that he can visit friends or fit in a doctor’s appointment.

Health and Friendship

He recently learned that he was only one day younger than former Bruins star forward David Greenwood, who died earlier this month from cancer. “It’s sobering, you know? Sixty-eight now seems young,” Howland said between bites of a Tuscan chicken sandwich inside the Luskin Center on the campus that once served as his basketball home. “But there’s always something. You’ve got to make sure you’re on top of your colon and your prostate, and that’s one of the reasons I come to UCLA for all my doctor appointments.” The old coach remains close to several retired doctors he’s known for many years, including Jean B. DeKernion, the former longtime chair of UCLA’s urology department, and Bennett Roth, the gastroenterologist who established the school’s endoscopy unit.

Connection with Current Coach

Perhaps nobody at the school can put a smile on his face like the current basketball coach. Mick Cronin and Howland have known one another since the former helped run Sonny Vaccaro’s ABCD Camp in the 1990s, going on to forge a friendship rooted in mutual respect. UCLA coach Ben Howland celebrates after a basket by Malcolm Lee against Michigan State in the 2011 NCAA tournament. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) There’s so many similarities between the coaches, from their demanding practices to their relentless defenses to their wry senses of humor to their lack of hair to their admiration for things that are difficult but worthwhile.

Coaching Style and Respect

“Coaching’s changed and I can still appreciate Mick because he comes from the old school and what he’s doing is no different than what [Bob] Huggins and [Rick] Pitino did as he’s working for them and watching these guys, who are both Hall of Famers, two of the greatest coaches ever,” Howland said. “And because you’re demanding — I mean, I think my players always knew at the end of the day that I loved them and was trying to get the most out of them, I’m trying to push them to be their very best, but as long as they know that you really love them and care about them and you want what’s best for them most of all, then they respect that and I think he does that.”

Attending Games and Practices

A regular at UCLA practices and games, Howland sometimes comes alone and other times brings his wife, Kim, and some combination of children Meredith and Adam and grandsons Benjamin, Elijah, Asher and Abraham. “I really enjoy it,” Howland said of coming to games at Pauley Pavilion. “I mean, I’m a fan too. I was yelling like crazy during that Wisconsin win. I’m telling you, I was so pumped up; that was such a great win, really, really exciting because they were good and you knew how important that game was. The same thing with the Michigan State win, that was an incredible win.” Legendary basketball coach John Wooden, right, sits next to then-UCLA coach Ben Howland during a news conference at Honda Center in December 2006. (Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times)

Honoring Final Four Teams

Howland said he agreed with those who believe the school should honor its Final Four teams with a banner inside Pauley Pavilion alongside those that recognize national championships. “I mean, in this day and age, it’s incredibly difficult to, No. 1, get to the Final Four,” Howland said, “and we can’t be arrogant to where we don’t recognize that.” Maybe the game that gets mentioned most in any conversation with Howland is the comeback from 17 points down against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 of the 2006 NCAA tournament. In the final seconds, with his team trailing by only one, Howland could be seen in front of the UCLA bench mimicking the defense he wanted his players to apply, waving his arms wildly. UCLA coach Ben Howland prepares to talk to his players during a timeout against Washington in December 2010. (Katie Falkenberg / For the Times)

Post-UCLA Career and Challenges

Having been offered a job by a Big Ten school — he won’t say which one — during his second-to-last-year at UCLA, Howland remained a coveted coach. He agreed to go to Mississippi State in 2015, ringing a cowbell at his introductory news conference and getting to know quirky football coach Mike Leach. (“He loved the microphone, loved to be on camera, very funny,” Howland said of the late Leach.) Yet the recruiting challenges in rural Starkville, Miss., made winning far more difficult than it was in Westwood. “Kids aren’t growing up saying, ‘I always wanted to be a Mississippi State Bulldog’ like they do a Bruin,” Howland said. Donovan Dent is among the new players on coach Mick Cronin’s UCLA roster for the 2025-26 season. (David Richard / Associated Press)

Legacy and Current Players

The current UCLA players might as well be Howland’s given his glowing praise. Consider his takes: On transfer point guard Donovan Dent: “Boy, to have him coming in here as the point guard next season, it’s such a critical element.” On transfer big man Xavier Booker: “I watched him in our game here [against Michigan State]; I was like, who’s that guy? I liked the way he moved, I liked his athleticism. He just needs minutes. I think Mick will get a lot out of him to help his team.” On returning forward Eric Dailey Jr.: “He had big games in big games. He’s just got to consistently bring that, but he’s only a junior.” Howland acknowledged being “heartbroken” that center Aday Mara transferred to Michigan on the cusp of a huge season after two years of development under Cronin.

Conclusion

One guy who can be counted on to be there at big games for the foreseeable future is a face familiar to a generation of UCLA fans, clapping wildly, his heart full, a Bruin until the end. Ben Howland’s legacy and love for UCLA basketball continue to inspire and influence the program, even years after his departure. His dedication to the team and its players, both past and present, is a testament to the lasting impact he had on the university and its athletic community.

FAQs

• Q: How long was Ben Howland the coach of UCLA’s basketball team?
  A: Ben Howland was the coach of UCLA’s basketball team for 10 years, from 2003 to 2013.
• Q: What is Ben Howland’s relationship like with current UCLA coach Mick Cronin?
  A: Ben Howland and Mick Cronin have a friendship rooted in mutual respect, having known each other since the 1990s.
• Q: Why does Ben Howland attend UCLA games and practices?
  A: Ben Howland attends UCLA games and practices because he enjoys watching the team play and is a fan of the program. He also appreciates the opportunity to visit with friends and former colleagues.
• Q: What is Ben Howland’s opinion on honoring Final Four teams with banners?
  A: Ben Howland agrees that the school should honor its Final Four teams with banners inside Pauley Pavilion, recognizing the difficulty of achieving such a feat.
• Q: Where did Ben Howland go after leaving UCLA?
  A: After leaving UCLA, Ben Howland went on to coach at Mississippi State from 2015 to 2022.