(MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – Mick Durham made his first move as the head coach of the Montana State University Billings men’s basketball program on Tuesday as he named Bobby Howard his assistant men’s basketball coach. Howard comes to Billings after spending the previous four seasons under Durham at University of Alaska Fairbanks.
A Great Falls, Mont. native, Howard played basketball for the Montana State University Bobcats where he graduated with a degree in Marketing. Howard was a two-time All-Big Sky honoree and finished his career with 1,366 points, which ranks 14th all-time for the Bobcats.
“I am excited to bring Bobby back home and to have him on my staff at MSUB,” Durham said of keeping his assistant. “Bobby has deep connections in this state that will be a strong and valuable resource as we connect our men’s basketball program to Montana.”
“I am excited to be back in Montana,” Howard said of the move. “I was one of those kids, here in Montana, looking for an opportunity and Coach Durham gave me my first scholarship offer out of high school. To be able to stay in the GNAC and return to my home state made it a perfect fit.”
Over four seasons together in Fairbanks, Alaska the combination of Durham and Howard won 53 games with the Nanooks including a 22-8 season in 2015-16. The Nanooks finished that season with a 78-71 loss to Western Oregon in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship game, Alaska’s first-ever appearance in the GNAC final.
“We had a good four years in Fairbanks,” Howard added. “It was a good challenge in Alaska and we were able to put together a very special year. There is a good group of returning players here at MSUB and we know what it takes to be successful in this league.”
Durham and Howard will take over a roster with seven returning players including all-GNAC honorable mention Zack Rollins. The ‘Jackets finished the 2017-18 season with a 13-18 record while going 5-15 in league play.
