Winthrop’s Mike Howland promoted to assistant coach

After two seasons as Winthrop men’s basketball director of operations, Mike Howland has been promoted to assistant coach. Head coach Pat Kelsey announced the news in a press release from the school’s athletic department Friday morning.

“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.”

Howland fills the void left by Marty McGillan, who left to join the University of Minnesota women’s basketball program as an assistant coach.

Howland came to Winthrop from Missouri State. He previously coached prep basketball at his alma mater, Saint Viator High School, in Arlington Heights, Ill. Howland’s teams won nearly 70 games in three years and he was recognized for his success in each of those seasons, earning IBCA District 4 Coach of the Year as well as the 2012 East Suburban Catholic Conference Coach of the Year.

Howland is also the co-founder of the Chicago Lockdown AAU basketball program, which earned a top 25 national ranking in 2013.

A 2002 DePauw University graduate, Howland had a stellar college basketball career. He was named Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the year and an NABC All-American his senior year, and scored 1,276 points in his career.

This story was originally published May 19, 2017 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Winthrop’s Mike Howland promoted to assistant coach."