Howland was promoted to assistant coach on May 17, 2017 after two years as the director of basketball operations.
“Mike has done a phenomenal job in his time here at Winthrop and has earned this opportunity,” said Kelsey. “He has a very keen basketball mind and has a very bright future in our profession. He has built great relationships in the community and most importantly with our players. I trust him implicitly. He will do great in his new role.”
He came to the Winthrop men’s basketball program after serving as the director of operations at Missouri State.
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.
