After 276 wins, six NCAA tournament appearances and five conference championships, Catholic University head men’s basketball coach Steve Howes announced his resignation on Wednesday. He served as the Cardinals’ head coach since the 2004-05 season.
“It has been a privilege to lead this special program,” Howes said. “I am grateful to the countless staff, coaches and especially the players, who have worked so hard and contributed so much to building a program with a rich tradition of excellence, on and off the court. Being part of the Catholic University community has meant a great deal to me and my family and I will always be grateful to our dedicated fans.”
Howes totaled a 276-138 record in 15 seasons, leading the Cardinals to 13 winning seasons, including seven with 20 or more wins. He was named the d3hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year in 2013 and was a two-time nominee for the Glenn Robinson National Coach of the Year award.
Howes coached four All-Americans and 28 all-conference selections, including three players of the year, three rookies of the year and two defensive players of the year. He is currently second in the Landmark Conference with 212 overall wins and 110 in league games.
Howes’ best year as head coach came during the 2012-13 season when Catholic posted a record of 25-4 en route to a Landmark Conference regular season and tournament championship. The Cards advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship and were ranked No. 12 in the final d3hoops.com Top-25 poll.
In his first three seasons at the helm, Howes led Catholic to three consecutive Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) championship games, winning in 2006 and 2007 in the team’s final two seasons in the league. In 2007, he enjoyed his first NCAA tournament victory as a head coach with a 58-37 triumph over Messiah at home.
A native of Washington, D.C., Howes has a 22-year association with Catholic that dates back to 1994 when he played two seasons for head coach Mike Lonergan before graduating in 1996. He later spent five seasons as an assistant coach under Lonergan before becoming the 20th head coach in program history on July 19, 2004.
“After 22 years here as a player and coach, I am excited about pursuing new opportunities,” added Howes. “I leave Catholic with a profound sense of gratitude. We had a great run and it’s been a wonderful experience.”
In 20 seasons as a coach at Catholic, Howes helped the Cardinals to a record of 397-164 with 11 NCAA tournament appearances, nine regular-season titles and six conference championships.
“On behalf of Catholic University and its athletics department, I would like to thank Steve for his two decades of service and dedication to the men’s basketball program,” said Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Sullivan. “He has made tremendous contributions, helping to further our winning tradition with a continued focus on excellence in athletics, academics and community service. We know he will enjoy success in his next venture.”
A national search for a new head men’s basketball coach will begin shortly.
http://www.catholicathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/releases/20190319mjxuwc
