Ben Howland implies he has no interest in Nebraska coaching job

Embattled UCLA basketball Coach Ben Howland implied in a statement released by the Bruins athletic department Thursday that he has no interest in Nebraska’s coaching vacancy.

“I am proud to be returning to my dream job as the head coach of the Bruins next fall, and I intend on ending my coaching career at UCLA,” Howland said in the statement. “I’m already very excited about the prospects for next year’s team, am currently on the recruiting trail, and will be visiting Kyle Anderson in New Jersey before returning to California this weekend to attend the Southern California Regional Championships at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.”

According to a recent report in the Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska contacted Howland about its coaching vacancy after dismissing Doc Sadler. Marc Boehm, the Cornhuskers’ associate athletic director for basketball, worked in Pittsburgh’s athletic department when Howland coached the Panthers before coming to UCLA.

A Bruins spokesman said he could not confirm that Nebraska had contacted Howland.

UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero announced earlier this week that Howland would return for the 2012-13 season despite failing to take the Bruins to the postseason for the third time in his nine seasons and being depicted in a recent Sports Illustrated story as a coach who had lost control of his team.

Howland hopes next month to add to a recruiting class that includes Anderson, a versatile swingman who can also play point guard, and shooting guard Jordan Adams. The Bruins are in the running for Shabazz Muhammad, widely considered the nation’s top prep senior, as well as highly touted center Tony Parker.

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Ben Howland implies he has no interest in Nebraska coaching job