Ben Howlett (basketball)

Last updated
Ben Howlett
Current position
TitleHead coach
Team West Liberty
Conference Mountain East Conference
Playing career
2005–2009 West Liberty
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2009–2010 West Liberty (student assistant)
2010–2011 Ohio Valley (assistant)
2011–2017West Liberty (assistant)
2017–presentWest Liberty
Head coaching record
Overall203–35 (.853)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • 6 MEC (2018–2020, 2022–2024)
  • MEC North Division (2021)
  • 3 MEC tournament (2020, 2022, 2023)
Awards
  • 3 MEC Coach of the Year (2021–2023)

Ben Howlett is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach of the West Liberty Hilltoppers men's basketball team.

Contents

Early life and playing career

Howlett grew up in Marietta, Ohio and attended Marietta High School. [1] He played college basketball for the West Liberty Hilltoppers and averaged 23 points per game as a senior. [2] Howlett scored 1,663 points during his college career. [3]

Coaching career

Howlett began his coaching career as a student assistant for West Liberty following his senior season in 2009. He spent the 2010–2011 season as an assistant for the Ohio Valley University Fighting Scots. Howlett returned to West Liberty as an assistant the following season after being offered a position from his former coach, Jim Crutchfield. [4]

Howlett was hired as the head coach at West Liberty on March 28, 2017, after Crutchfield resigned to the head coaching position at Nova Southeastern. [5]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
West Liberty (Mountain East Conference)(2017–present)
2017–18West Liberty 26–420–21st NCAA Division II First Round
2018–19West Liberty 28–520–21st NCAA Division II Sweet 16
2019–20West Liberty 27–419–31stNo postseason held
2020–21West Liberty 18–513–3 NCAA Division II Elite Eight
2021–22West Liberty 29–320–21st NCAA Division II First Round
2022–23West Liberty 33–420–21st NCAA Division II Runner-up
2023–24West Liberty 26–717–3T-1st NCAA Division II Second Round
2024–25West Liberty 16–310–2
West Liberty:203–35 (.853)139–19 (.880)
Total:203–35 (.853)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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References

  1. Holland, Jordan (March 14, 2020). "Ben Howlett building his own legacy at West Liberty". Marietta Times. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  2. "Classes of 2021 and 2022 inducted into Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame". Marietta Times. June 12, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  3. "West Lib in good hands with Howlett at the helm". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel . March 10, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  4. "HOWLETT RETURNING TO WEST LIBERTY AS ASSISTANT COACH" (Press release). West Liberty Athletic Department. July 8, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  5. Wharton, Jim (March 28, 2017). "Ben Howlett named West Liberty Head Coach". WTAP.com . Retrieved November 26, 2024.