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Winthrop head men’s basketball coach Pat Kelsey announced the hiring of Michael Howland as the director of basketball operations.
Howland comes to the men’s basketball program after spending the last season in the same position at Missouri State.
“I am extremely thankful to Coach Kelsey for giving me the opportunity to join the basketball staff here at Winthrop,” said Howland. “It’s an honor to join a staff comprised of not only great coaches, but great people as well. I believe in the vision Coach Kelsey has for Winthrop basketball, and I’m excited to get to work preparing for the upcoming season.”
Howland replaces Tony Rack, who returned to his hometown of Cincinnati, OH to join the basketball staff at his alma mater of Northern Kentucky.
“We are extremely fortunate to hire a person of Mike’s caliber in this position,” said Kelsey. “Both personally and professionally he embodies the Winthrop basketball culture. Mike has been ultra-successful throughout his basketball career and will add a tremendous amount to our organization.”
Prior to his stint at Missouri State in 2014-15, Howland was the varsity basketball coach at Saint Viator High School in Arlington Heights, IL. In three years at Saint Viator he compiled a 69-19 record, winning 20 or more games each year and claiming three regional titles. That record was the best in the school’s history in a three-year stretch. Howland was recognized for his success in each of the three seasons, being named the IBCA District 4 Coach of the Year as well as the 2012 East Suburban Catholic Conference Coach of the Year.
In 2002 Howland graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN after a successful four-year career as a member of the basketball team. He was a starter all four seasons and earned a couple of individual honors. In 2002 he was an NABC All-America selection and also named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2002. His senior season he helped the team to a 24-4 mark and appearance in the Elite Eight of the Division III NCAA Tournament. He scored 1,276 points in his career, which ranks 13th all-time and finished third all-time in assists (490). During his four years under long-time coach Bill Fenlon, the team compiled a 75-28 record.
Howland is also the co-founder of the Chicago Lockdown AAU Basketball 14U-17U program, which earned a top 25 national ranking in 2013 as well as guiding Lockdown to a 27-1 mark and four championships during 2013 live periods.
http://winthropeagles.com/news/2015/9/8/MBB_0908154338.aspx
Photo Courtesy: Winthrop Athletics
