Ben Howland found himself in need of John Cohen’s help in mid-February.
Howland’s Mississippi State team was set to host Missouri on Feb. 18 at Humphrey Coliseum, but the Tigers were faced with travel issues. So Cohen got on the phone with Missouri athletic director Desiree Reed-François, worked with the Southeastern Conference and got things sorted out. The game was moved back from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the Tigers made it in time to play.
That was the last time Howland spoke with his athletic director until Thursday, when Cohen fired him.
“In terms of my status and what he was thinking, there was no conversation during the last month of the season,” Howland said.
Instead, Howland said Friday, he learned from news reports he would likely not be returning for an eighth season in Starkville. Howland addressed his players after Wednesday’s loss to Virginia in the NIT, telling them he expected to be out and thanking them.
When Howland arrived for a meeting with Cohen and university officials Thursday, he knew what they would say. In a brief conference, they confirmed his suspicions.
After seven seasons, Mississippi State was parting ways with Howland.
The veteran coach wouldn’t say if the way things ended was hard on him, saying only “it is what it is” when asked. But Howland said Tuesday he would be “disappointed” not to return for the 2022-23 season and reiterated the statement Friday.
He mentioned making the NCAA tournament in 2019, qualifying for the postseason in four of the past five seasons and winning more than 20 games on average per year.
“I feel good about what we accomplished,” Howland said. “I’m proud of the team. I’m proud of our players. I’m proud of everybody who helped make it happen.”
In a 10-minute opening statement before fielding questions, Howland thanked a long list of players, administrators and staff, including Cohen and university president Mark E. Keenum.
Flashing a brief smile before the cameras started rolling, Howland seemed to have few regrets about his time in Starkville in spite of how his tenure ended.
“I am here today to express my thankfulness and how grateful I am for the opportunity to have coached at Mississippi State here these past seven years,” Howland said.
He came in when the Bulldogs’ program was near its lowest, going 37-60 in the three previous seasons under Rick Ray. But after reaching the national semifinals three times in a 10-year tenure at UCLA, Howland still harbored high expectations — a fourth Final Four for him and a second for Mississippi State.
But it took two years in which MSU won 30 games in total to get things back on track.
“I took over a tough situation here, and I think people recognize that,” Howland said. “The first year was very difficult. We had three solid seniors who had been in the program, and then it was really not a lot behind that.”
The Bulldogs won 25 games during the 2017-18 season, reaching the NIT semifinals in Howland’s third season and achieving greater heights the following year. MSU made the tournament for the first time in 10 years, earning a No. 5 seed before being upset by Liberty in the first round.
Howland thought Mississippi State had a chance to make a repeat showing the following year after winning 11 of its last 15 conference games and earning a double bye in the SEC tournament.
The day before the Bulldogs were set to play, though, the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the tournament. The rest of the season was over.
“I was so hurt,” Howland said. “I remember crying in front of our team in the hotel having to share with them that our season was over, that everything was shut down so abruptly because of COVID. … It will always haunt me to not know what was going to happen with that team.”
With four transfers set to join Iverson Molinar and Tolu Smith this season, Howland expected Mississippi State to make it back to the Big Dance.
Instead, Smith battled multiple injuries and COVID-19, Michigan State transfer Rocket Watts dealt with injuries, and the Bulldogs failed to close game after game, ultimately winding up in the NIT once again.
“I thought we were going to be really good this year,” Howland said.
Whoever is hired as MSU’s new coach — New Mexico State’s Chris Jans and Murray State’s Matt McMahon are among the top candidates — will have to hope to keep the Bulldogs’ roster together. By Friday, forward Javian Davis had reportedly entered the transfer portal; MSU’s four-player recruiting class could scatter with Howland’s departure.
That’s no longer Howland’s problem, though. Asked if he had any advice for a new coach, Howland demurred.
“They’re going to get someone great, so I’m sure that he doesn’t need my help,” Howland said. “He’ll be able to handle it.”
In terms of his own future, Howland — who turns 65 in May — said “you never say never” with regard to a return to coaching. He said he plans to head home to California on Monday to be with his 88-year-old mother, who fell and broke her hip Thursday morning.
“One thing I know is I’m going to be back home with my family,” Howland said. “I’m from there, and it’s home. I’m really looking forward, (my wife) Kim and I, to getting back out there. That’s the No. 1 thing. I’ve had a great career. I couldn’t be happier. We’ll see what happens in the future.”
Despite his firing Thursday, Howland still called Mississippi State a “special place” and said the Bulldogs’ collection of coaches felt like a family.
Now, it’s a family of which Howland will no longer be an active part.
“I’m always going to be a Bulldog supporter, and I wish nothing but the best for our team — men’s basketball — football, baseball and all the programs,” Howland said. “I’m always going to be thankful for my seven years here and the time that I spent.”
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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