Ashley Howard (basketball)

Background

Howard's parents were Maurice Howard and Diane Coleman, the former of who played college basketball at the University of Maryland, and was a second round draft choice of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers in 1976. He also played for the New Orleans Jazz. According to Chris Mack, Xavier head coach, Howard has "been around the game his entire life. He is a tireless worker and will bring energy every single day to the practice floor. He's worked with countless pros even before he hit the college floor in a coaching capacity. It was very evident in talking to some of his former players that Ashley deeply impacts the players he coaches."

Education

Howard graduated from both Monsignor Bonner High School and Drexel University with a degree in communications.

Basketball career

Averaged 8.9 points and a team-high 4.9 assists per game, Howard played with the Drexel Dragons – and was also a guard for the team – between 1999 and 2002, only stopping due to an injury. At that point he became a student assistant coach at Drexel University until 2003. He was co-director of the Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp. In 2004 he became head coach John Giannini's assistant at La Salle University. In 2006 he was an assistant coach of the Jamaican National team, accompanying the squad on its Olympic qualifying bid in Kingston. In 2008 he went back to Drexel as assistant coach to James "Bruiser" Flint.

Acclaim

Villanova tried to take Howard away from Xavier two months after he joined the Musketeers' staff. According to head coach Chris Mack, "it's disappointing to lose a young and talented coach like Ashley Howard, especially to another Big East program. He is a future head coach and his contributions while at Xavier were greatly appreciated."

Villanova head coach Jay Wright said: "We're proud to have Ashley join our Villanova Basketball family. I have known Ashley since he was a high school player. He has deep roots in Philadelphia's basketball tradition and gained an appreciation for the Augustinian values during his days as a student at Monsignor Bonner High School. He will take great pride in representing Villanova."