Ben Howland, an American college basketball coach, is married to Kim Howland and has two children: Adam and Meredith Howland.
The married couple lived on the West Coast, the East Coast, and in the Southwest, moving between them.
Highlights
- Ben Howland’s wife, Kim, has been his rock since their college days at Weber State, where she cheered for him as a cheerleader.
- They have two accomplished children: Adam, an Assistant District Attorney, and Meredith, a pediatric oncology nurse.
- They have a personal connection to Huntington’s disease, and Ben used his platform to raise awareness and funds for research.
Ben played college basketball for Santa Barbara City College and later transferred to Weber State College. He is renowned for his defensive skills and played professionally in the Bohemios First Division, in Uruguay, South America.
Since his teenage years, he has wanted to become a coach, and at 24, he became a graduate assistant at Gonzaga. His duty was to guard future basketball Hall of Famer John Stockton in practice.
His first head coaching job was at Northern Arizona University in 1994, and he helped his team capture the Big Sky Conference Championship in the 1996-97 season.
Similarly, he coached the University of Pittsburgh and won the 2003 tournament title, the first in school history.
Ben joined UCLA and set the foundation for future success, winning the Pac-10 Conference title in the 2005-06 season. Sadly, UCLA fired him on March 25, 2013.
Afterward, he joined Mississippi State University as their 20th head coach on March 24, 2015. He led the Bulldogs in their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2009.
On March 17, 2022, the Bulldogs announced that Ben had been fired.
We are appreciative of the time and effort Coach Howland devoted in leading our men’s basketball program. We thank him for his investment in the lives of our student-athletes and pouring his heart and soul into our program from the day he arrived in Starkville. There’s no question he left our program better than he found it. MSU owes a debt of gratitude to Coach Howland, and we have the utmost respect for him as a coach and person.
Ben Howland
Ben Howland’s Wife Has Been A 44-Year Sideline Support
Ben Howland is renowned as a legendary basketball coach, but his most incredible pride lies in his roles as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
He has been married to his college sweetheart, Kim Howland, who has been by his side through every step of his career for 44 years.
Dot and Layne Livingston, along wife Kim, present @Ben_Howland with his new memory quilt. #HailState pic.twitter.com/1daxQtkDqB
— Mississippi State Men's Basketball (@HailStateMBK) October 13, 2015
Ben and Kim met at Weber State University in Utah, where he was a standout basketball player, and she was a spirited member of the cheerleading squad.
Decades later, her enthusiasm hasn’t faded. She remains Ben’s biggest supporter, cheering him on from the sidelines just as she did in their college days.
Together, they have followed the challenges of a coaching career that has taken them across the country, from the West Coast to the East Coast and the Southwest.
In 2016, they relocated to Mississippi, leaving their two adult children behind in California.
Their son, Adam Howland, is a Pepperdine University graduate and currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney in Santa Barbara. He and his wife, Bridgette, have three sons: Ben Howland II, Eli, and Asher.
Kim and I are excited about the birth of our third grandchild, Asher, earlier this week! #HailState
Ben Howland
Blessed 🙏 pic.twitter.com/bm95sz8WNl
— Ben Howland (@Ben_Howland) May 29, 2021
Meanwhile, their daughter, Meredith, is a pediatric oncology nurse at UCLA Hospital.
The Howlands remain a tight-knit family, with frequent visits and shared pride in each other’s accomplishments.
Furthermore, since moving to Mississippi, Kim and Ben embraced their new community with open arms. They are active members of Crosspoint Church, where Kim teaches kindergarteners on Sunday evenings.
Ben often speaks fondly of their church, especially its strong connection with local students.
Kim has been the steady force behind Ben’s success through every transition, proving that their partnership extends far beyond the basketball court.
Ben Howland Lost His Father-In-Law To Huntington’s Disease
Among the many charitable events hosted by college basketball coaches, few carry as much personal significance as UCLA’s HDSA LA Hoop-a-Thon, organized by former Bruins coach Ben Howland.
The event raised funds for the second consecutive year for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA), supporting research to find a cure for this devastating neurological disorder.
Ben Howland’s connection to the cause was deeply personal. He lost his father-in-law, Arlo Zahnow, to Huntington’s disease four years ago.
It is a hereditary condition that progressively deteriorates muscle coordination, cognitive function, and speech, eventually leading to dementia and difficulty swallowing.
The untimely passing of his father-in-law left a lasting impact on him, but his concerns extend beyond the past.
Huntington’s disease is hereditary, and Ben was afraid that his wife and their children could be at risk. He acknowledged the feat that comes with the disease’s genetic nature.
My wife doesn’t get up every morning and immediately think about this. At least, I don’t think so. And no, we have never sat the kids down and talked about it, but they both know they could potentially get it.
Ben Howland
Ben typically keeps his family life private, but he convinced Kim that his platform as a coach could make a difference.
Former UCLA stars Russell Westbrook, Arron Afflalo, Ryan Hollins, and Darren Collison joined the coach at Pauley Pavilion to support the cause.
Nonetheless, Ben had turned the personal loss into hope for a cure through events like the Hoop-a-Thon.
Additional Information
- Benjamin Clark Howland, the second child of Robert and Mary Howland, was born on May 28, 1957, in Lebanon, Oregon.
- His father was a Presbyterian minister, and his mother was the daughter of missionaries to China.
- He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education at Weber State and his master’s degree in administration at Ganzaga University.
- His net worth is estimated to be $11 million, and he earns approximately $2 million annually.
