Mississippi State AD responds to report about Ben Howland's future

Mississippi State has responded to a report about the status of men’s basketball coach Ben Howland.

Glenn Guilbeau of OutKick reported Sunday afternoon, per sources, that Howland had been fired and even cleaned out his desk. MSU beat reporters were quick to say OutKick’s initial report was inaccurate.

This in inaccurate. Ben Howland, at the least, will coach through the NIT. Howland has not met with AD John Cohen yet, a source tells me. https://t.co/uOOyExthWy

— Stefan Krajisnik (@skrajisnik3) March 13, 2022

OutKick’s report was then updated to say that Howland will not return next season, but had not been fired yet. Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen told Stadium that Howland will coach the Bulldogs in the NIT if they are given a bid.

Mississippi State statement to @Stadium

“Reports of Ben Howland being fired are inaccurate. MSU plans to accept a bid to the NIT should it be selected, and Howland intends to coach the team.” – John Cohen, MSU Director of Athletics

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 13, 2022

Howland, who turns 65 in May, has been in coaching since 1981, getting his start as an assistant at Gonzaga. He has been Mississippi State’s coach since 2015. Under Howland, the Bulldogs have gone 134-97. Howland has taken the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament once, in 2019. Last year’s MSU squad was the NIT runner-up. Mississippi State reached the NIT semifinals in 2018.