Howland Takes Hot Seat

Ben Howland was welcomed to the peculiar world of UCLA basketball on Wednesday.

The new Bruin coach experienced an array of oddities during a first day in Westwood that did not end until he agreed on a contract at 9:40 p.m.

He learned of the school's financial constraints while hammering out a deal that is the most lucrative given to a UCLA coach but could cause Howland serious tax liabilities.

He learned of the largess of boosters tied to the entertainment industry, several of whom anted up $1 million apiece to sweeten his deal and another who arranged for a private jet to take him to the Final Four.

And he learned during a three-hour meeting that Chancellor Albert Carnesale is a pleasant and erudite man who drives a hard bargain but will become a staunch ally in the inevitable times of duress that are ahead.

Howland, 45, will be introduced as the 12th Bruin coach today at a news conference. His four years as coach at Pittsburgh, five years as coach at Northern Arizona, 11 years as an assistant at UC Santa Barbara and a childhood in the Southland made him the swift and decisive choice to return the Bruins to a semblance of their former glory.

Contrary to published reports, however, Howland was not the only candidate interviewed by Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, who contacted several coaches through intermediaries and interviewed at least one.

Guerrero last week was granted permission from Stanford interim Athletic Director Debra Gore-Mann to meet with Cardinal Coach Mike Montgomery.

The discussion did not progress enough for Montgomery to gain an audience with Carnesale.

In fact, Montgomery might have endorsed Howland to Guerrero the way he did to Brandin Knight four years ago when the talented point guard considered leaving Pittsburgh as a freshman because he didn't know the new coach.

Howland asked Montgomery, a longtime friend, to contact Knight, whose brother, Brevin, had played at Stanford. Knight stayed at Pittsburgh, developed a strong relationship with Howland after a stormy beginning, blossomed into an All-American and led the Panthers to the Sweet 16 the last two seasons.

Now Howland is expected to work similar magic at UCLA, which last season was 10-19, its worst record in 61 years.

Steve Lavin was fired after serving as the Bruins' coach for seven seasons.