Nick Howell

Last updated
Nick Howell
Current position
Title Defensive coordinator
Team New Mexico
Conference MW
Biographical details
Born (1980-02-26) February 26, 1980 (age 43)
Ogden, Utah
Alma mater Weber State (2005)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002 Sky View HS (UT) (DL)
2003 Weber HS (UT) (DC)
2004–2006 Ben Lomond HS (UT)
2007 BYU (intern)
2008–2009BYU (GA)
2010BYU (OLB)
2011–2012BYU (DB/ST)
2013–2015BYU (DC/DB)
2016–2021 Virginia (DC/DB)
2022–2023 Vanderbilt (DC)
2024–present New Mexico (DC)

Nicholas Wade Howell (born February 26, 1980) is an American football coach. He is the defensive coordinator at New Mexico. [1]

Contents

Coaching career

High School

Howell began his career coaching high school football. He worked from 2002 to 2006 for Sky View High School, Weber High School, and Ben Lomond High School where he was the head coach.

BYU

He went to BYU in 2007 as an unpaid defensive intern and became a member of the coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2008 and later a full-time assistant in 2010. While coaching the secondary the 2011 defense was 15th in pass efficiency and 12th in overall defense. In 2012 the BYU's defense finished third nationally in total defense and 10th in passing yards allowed. In 2013, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall promoted Howell to replace him as defensive coordinator. As a full time coordinator Howell's Cougar defense finished 12th nationally in yards per play 16th in pass efficiency and 22nd in scoring defense. They ranked 20th nationally in rush defense in 2014 and sixth nationally in sacks per game in 2015.

Virginia

Following Mendenhall's departure from Brigham Young University in December 2015 Howell followed him to the University of Virginia. While at Virginia in 2017 Howells's defense ranked seventh in the nations against the pass. In 2018 the Cavaliers finished among the nation's top 20 in opponent pass efficiency. Howell also helped lead Virginia Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and an Orange Bowl Berth tallying a program record 43 sacks. In 2021 the defense stepped up when it mattered most finishing 28th nationally in red zone defense.

Vanderbilt

Following the end of the 2021 season, Howell was not retained by the new UVA coaching staff but was instead was hired at Vanderbilt in 2022 as their defensive coordinator. [2] While servings as Defensive Coordinator in 2022 the Commodores led the SEC with 12 interceptions and were fourth in the SEC in defensive touchdowns.

New Mexico

After the 2023 season Howell left is position at Vanderbilt with Clark Lea and reunited with Bronco Mendenhall at New Mexico. [3]

Personal life

Howell grew up in North Ogden, Utah, and graduated in 1998 from Ben Lomond High School, where his father Roger was a longtime high school coach and athletic director. After high School he served a LDS Mission in Brazil. Following his church mission, Howell went to Snow College to play football but his career was cut short when he was injured, so he followed his father into the coaching profession. [4] He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Weber State University and a M.A. from the University of Phoenix. Howell and his wife Brooke have four children. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Lomond High School</span> Public school in Ogden, Utah, US

Ben Lomond High School is a comprehensive high school located in the Ogden City School District of Ogden, Utah, United States, currently educating students in grades 10–12. As of 2018, the principal is Steve Poll, his first year at Ben Lomond (2018/19).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Holmoe</span> American football player and coach (born 1960)

Thomas Allen Holmoe is an American college athletics administrator and former football player and coach. He has been the athletic director at Brigham Young University (BYU) since 2005. Holmoe played college football at BYU and then professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Francisco 49ers from 1983 to 1989. He served as the head football coach at the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) from 1997 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronco Mendenhall</span> American football player and coach (born 1966)

Marc Bronco Clay Mendenhall is an American football coach for the University of New Mexico (UNM) Lobos in Albuquerque. He previously coached at the University of Virginia. He stepped down after the 2021 season. Mendenhall joined Virginia in 2015 after spending the previous eleven seasons as the head football coach at Brigham Young University (BYU). He has a career record of 135 victories and 81 losses and has recorded fourteen postseason bowl game appearances with seven victories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BYU Cougars football</span> College football program representing Brigham Young University

The BYU Cougars football team is the college football program representing Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. The Cougars began collegiate football competition in 1922, and have won 23 conference championships and one national championship in 1984.

Robert Anae is an American football coach and former player who is currently serving as the offensive coordinator (OC) for NC State since December 2022. Prior to NC State, he was the OC at the University of Virginia and Brigham Young University (BYU), his alma mater, each under head coach Bronco Mendenhall, and as the OC at Syracuse under head coach Dino Babers.

Matthew W. Mendenhall is a former American football defensive end who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins before numerous injuries and alcoholism ended his career. He started in Super Bowl XVII as his Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins for the NFL Championship in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. J. Ah You</span> American football player and coach (born 1982)

Charles "C. J." Ah You, Jr. is an American football coach and former defensive end. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft and spent most of his career with the St. Louis Rams. He played college football at BYU and Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Muschamp</span> American football player and coach (born 1971)

William Lawrence Muschamp is an American football coach and former player. He is the co-defensive coordinator, and safeties coach at the University of Georgia. He served as head football coach at the University of Florida from 2011 to 2014 and at the University of South Carolina from 2016 to 2020.

Kelly Scott Poppinga is an American football coach and former player. He is the special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach at Brigham Young University (BYU). He is the younger brother of National Football League (NFL) linebacker Brady Poppinga.

Derek Mason is an American college football coach who is currently the head football coach for Middle Tennessee State University. He previously served as head coach at Vanderbilt University from 2014 to 2020.

George Barlow is an American football coach who is currently the cornerbacks coach at the University of South Florida. He was the interim head coach for the University of New Mexico Lobos. He was elevated from defensive coordinator to interim head coach following the firing of Mike Locksley on September 25, 2011. He coached the Lobos for their final eight games in 2011. He has also coached at Vanderbilt, NC State, and Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 BYU Cougars football team</span> American college football season

The 2012 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars, led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall, played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This was the second year BYU competed as an independent. They finished the season 8–5. They were invited to the Poinsettia Bowl where they defeated San Diego State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Elliott (American football coach)</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Antonio "Tony" Elliott is an American football coach who is currently the head coach at the University of Virginia. He previously served as an assistant coach at Clemson University from 2011 to 2021, most recently as associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and tight ends coach, after serving most of those years as running backs coach and/or co-offensive coordinator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 BYU Cougars football team</span> American college football season

The 2013 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cougars, led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall, played their home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium. This was the third year BYU competed as an independent. They finished the season 8–5. They were invited to the Fight Hunger Bowl where they lost to Washington, 31–16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Pruitt</span> American football player and coach (born 1974)

Jeremy Pruitt is an American football coach who most recently was a senior defensive assistant for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach at the University of Tennessee from 2018 to 2020 and defensive coordinator at the University of Alabama from 2016 to 2017, University of Georgia from 2014 to 2015, and Florida State University in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Vanderbilt Commodores football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Vanderbilt Commodores football team represented Vanderbilt University during the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Commodores played their home games at Vanderbilt Stadium at Dudley Field in Nashville, Tennessee, which has been Vanderbilt football's home stadium since 1922. Derek Mason coached the Commodores for his second year. They are members of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Commodores finished with a losing record for the second year in a row with an overall record of 4–8 and 2–6 in SEC play.

The 2015 Las Vegas Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game played on December 19, 2015, at Sam Boyd Stadium in the Las Vegas suburb of Whitney, Nevada. The 24th edition of the Las Vegas Bowl featured the BYU Cougars against the Utah Utes, earning the game the moniker the Holy War in Sin City. The game sold out 24 hours after the matchup was announced. It began at 12:30 p.m. PST and aired on ABC. It was one of the 2015–16 bowl games that concluded the 2015 FBS football season. Sponsored by lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple, it was officially known as the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Virginia Cavaliers football team</span> American college football season

The 2016 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cavaliers were led by first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall and played their home games at Scott Stadium. They were members of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 2–10, 1–7 in ACC play to finish in a tie for sixth place in the Coastal Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Pry</span> American football player and coach (born 1970)

Brenton James Pry is an American football coach and former player who is currently the head coach at Virginia Tech. He previously served as the defensive coordinator at Penn State from 2016 to 2021. He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Beck (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1980)

Jason Michael Beck is an American football coach and former player who is current serving as the offensive coordinator (OC) for Syracuse since December 2022. Prior to Syracuse, he was the quarterbacks coach at the University of Virginia and Brigham Young University (BYU), his alma mater, each under head coach Bronco Mendenhall, and as the quarterbacks coach at Syracuse under head coach Dino Babers.

References

  1. "Virginia coaching staff: Ruffin McNeill, Nick Howell, and Kelly Poppinga join defensive staff". streakingthelawn.com. 12 December 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. "Lustig Promoted, New Hires Announced". Vanderbilt Commodores. 7 January 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  3. "Mendenhall Announces 2024 Coaching and Support Staff". New Mexico Lobos . Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  4. "Coach with years of Ben Lomond High ties takes his story to BYU's football team". standard.net. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  5. "BYU football: Secondary coach Nick Howell has come a long way in a short time". sltrib.com. Retrieved September 8, 2012.