Ben Howland
Former UCLA coach Ben Howland could be named the head man at Mississippi State as soon as today, according to a report by CBS Sports. (AP file photo)
Former UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland has been hired at Mississippi State, the school confirmed late Monday.
The 57-year-old Howland, who coached UCLA to three Final Fours, emerged as a serious candidate in Starkville on Sunday. Mississippi State fired Rick Ray on Saturday after three seasons.
"I'm just so humble and grateful to be the new basketball coach at Mississippi State university," Howland said. "I'm elated and excited the opportunity build a consistent winner here at State. I know we have some of the greatest fans in the country and I look forward to making them proud of our team and our efforts. Hail State."
Howland has been out of coaching since 2013, when he was fired by UCLA after a first-round NCAA tournament exit. He took the Bruins to the Final Four three straight seasons from 2006-08 -- including a national runner-up finish the first year -- but didn't make past the round of 32 over his final five years in Westwood.
Howland -- who worked as a television analyst for NBC Sports Network this past season -- also coached at Northern Arizona and Pittsburgh, reaching the Sweet 16 in back-to-back years with the Panthers before taking the UCLA job. Mississippi State has not made the NCAA tournament since 2009, and has not won a tournament game since 2008.
"We have a coach who is a proven winner that's taken three schools to the NCAA Tournament," MSU athletics director Scott Stricklin said. "Ben is someone who is ready to invest in the people of Mississippi and Bulldogs everywhere, while bringing championship basketball back to [Humphrey Coliseum]. Mississippi State basketball can compete at the highest level, just as several of our other teams have done in recent years, and I'm excited to have coach Howland lead us back to that level."
Ray went 37-60 at Mississippi State, including 13-19 this past season. The Bulldogs went 13-41 in the SEC and did not record a winning record under his tenure.
Part of the allure of Mississippi State for Howland is reportedly its connection to adidas, to which Howland has been closely tied in the past. He turned down the Oregon State job last year, a position that ultimately went to former Montana coach Wayne Tinkle.