West Liberty University head men’s basketball coach Ben Howlett has welcomed Brett Ervin to the Hilltopper coaching staff as an assistant coach.
“I’ve known Brett for several years, both as a player and a coach,” Howlett said. “He’s a West Virginia native who has played and coached against us so he’s very familiar with the great tradition of West Liberty basketball.
“Brett is a really impressive young coach and a high-energy hard-working guy who will be a great asset to the Hilltopper program and the university as we continue to build on that tradition.”
Ervin comes to the hilltop after spending the last two seasons as a graduate assistant for head coach Patrick Beilein at NCAA Division II Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y.
Ervin filled a key role on Beilein’s staff this winter as the Dolphins won the Northeast-10 Southwest Division title and hosted the NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament as the No. 1-ranked team in the East Region.
“Being from Clarksburg and having played and coached against West Liberty at West Virginia Wesleyan and Le Moyne, I was very familiar with the incredible success of West Liberty basketball,” Ervin said.
“Ben and I had run into each other several times on the recruiting trail and he made quite an impression on me both as an outstanding recruiter and as a quality person so when he called and offered me this opportunity, I didn’t hesitate for a second.”
After playing three years of NCAA Division I basketball at Elon (N.C.), the 6-7 Ervin played one season for Beilein at West Virginia Wesleyan, averaging 12.5 ppg. while ranking among the Mountain East Conference leaders with 92 3-point field goals for a 20-win Bobcat team.
He signed with Elon following an all-state high school career at R.C. Byrd HS in Clarksburg, averaging double-figures every year and setting the school’s all-time scoring record.
“Ben and I share many of the same goals and aspirations,” Ervin said. “I want to be a college head coach someday and I know there’s a lot I can learn from Ben that will help me achieve that goal. This is a great program with a great tradition and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it.”
Ervin holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from West Virginia Wesleyan and earned a master’s degree in Sports Management from West Virginia University. He is currently finishing work on his master’s in Business Administration from Le Moyne.
Howlett Adds Ervin to WLU Basketball Staff
