Howland Praises Pittsburgh

Ben Howland beamed with pride as he talked Tuesday about the undefeated team he assembled and coached.

But he wasn’t discussing UCLA’s 4-0 start in Pacific 10 Conference play.

The topic was Pittsburgh, a team he coached the previous four seasons, a team that is 17-0 after defeating Notre Dame on Monday. The Panthers lead the nation in victories and are coached by Howland’s protege and good friend Jamie Dixon.

“I’m very happy for my former players,” he said. “Jamie is doing a great job, and I’m happy for him.”

Howland had a faraway look in his eyes as he continued.

“They’ve been successful at a very high level and know how to win close games,” he said. “They have men, guys who are fourth- and fifth-year players in the program.

“They are capable of beating anybody in the country. I take great pride in that. I helped start that program.

“I really do love those kids. They don’t care who scores. They don’t care about stats. They only care about one big stat -- the W.”

Then he shook his head as if snapping himself out of a daydream.

“Enough about Pittsburgh,” he said, laughing.

*

Howland took a pay cut to come to UCLA, but he is the highest-paid coach ever in Westwood. He will make at least $900,000 this year, and the total could surpass $1 million with bonuses.

His base salary of $150,000 is supplemented by $375,000 for personal appearances and $375,000 for wearing Adidas apparel.

He also will receive a raise of $10,000 a year through the duration of the contract, which expires in April 2010.

Bonuses include $100,000 for a national championship, $50,000 for making the Final Four, $30,000 for being selected national coach of the year and $25,000 for winning the Pac-10. He also can make an extra $10,000 to $30,000 if the player graduation rate is 67% or above.

His buyout should he be fired is one year at $900,000 and an additional seven years at $150,000. UCLA had to pay Pittsburgh $625,000 to buy out his contract there, but Howland would be on the hook for substantially more than that should he decide to leave UCLA for another coaching job.

In a contract clause that did not exist with previous Bruin coaches, Howland must pay the university $1.5 million if he takes a position with another Pac-10 school and $1 million if he takes a job with any other Division I school or a professional team.