Howland worth every penny to UCLA When you look at Ben Howland's accomplishments at UCLA, you...

Howland worth every penny to UCLA

When you look at Ben Howland's accomplishments at UCLA, you understand why the school signed him to a lucrative contract extension. UCLA and Howland agreed on a new seven-year contract, which runs through the 2014-15 season and includes guaranteed compensation of $1.97 million for the 2008-09 season and escalates to $2.3 million for the 2014-15 season. Last season, UCLA set a school record for victories en route to a mark of 35-4 and a third consecutive Final Four appearance. Since the NCAA tournament bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985, UCLA is one of just four schools to earn three straight Final Four berths (Michigan State in 1999-01 was the last to do so prior to the Bruins). UCLA has also won three straight Pac-10 titles, making Howland the first Bruin coach since John Wooden to win three straight league championships. Howland is also one of just three coaches in the history of college basketball to win at least 30 games in three consecutive seasons. It was a wise move for UCLA to sign him up.

Duke Vitale States The Obvious

over 3 years ago Nestor 2 comments 0 recs |

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Maybe rye knows this

But I wonder how much revenue can be attributed directly to the basketball program.

by Tydides on Jul 5, 2008 12:22 PM PDT reply actions

A bargain at twice the price..

Actually, I remember seeing that basketball does not contribute that much to the athletic program but the recognition it brings in is priceless. Well, if not priceless at least costly. Consider what would happen were UCLA to lose Howland and “revert” to a Lavin-like substitute: the violent decline in quality would feed the UCLA-hating MSM once more creating that toilet bowl/maelstrom we were locked in from 1997-2003.

Besides, one remembers a long time ago reading of the 20-year contract Steve Young signed with a USFL franchise which - gasp - guaranteed him a mil per year in his final few years. At the time, everyone thought a million buckos was a lot of dough. Can you imagine how trivial almost two mil will be in 2014?

..of course, there’s always renegotiations and extensions which, for a coach like CBH’s case, would not be problematic.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by WHP '68 on Jul 7, 2008 8:47 AM PDT up reply actions