Former Mavs star Josh Howard returning to Metroplex as UNT Dallas men’s first coach
Former Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard is returning to the area, but not as a player.
The 2007 NBA All-Star as agreed to become the first men’s basketball coach in UNT Dallas history.
UNT Dallas will debut its men’s basketball program in the fall while competing at the NAIA level. The Trailblazers found Howard in his hometown of Winston-Salem, N.C., where coached Piedmont International University the past four seasons.
He was the Mavs’ first-round pick in 2003 out of Wake Forest, an Atlantic Coast Conference team also in Winston-Salem, and has continued to live in Dallas during parts of the basketball off-season.
“Josh’s basketball career speaks for itself as a former star player for the Mavericks and a member of the Wake Forest and Atlantic Coast Conference Halls of Fame,” UNT Dallas athletic director Jack Allday said. “Off the court, the effort he puts into the Josh Howard Foundation shows how much he cares about our young people. Our student-athletes, student body, fans and the entire Trailblazers family are going to love Josh Howard.”
Piedmont International when 49-49 under Howard, who guided the 2018-19 squad to the National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament. Seven players were selected to all-conference teams during Howard’s tenure.
He was a key part of the 2005-06 Mavs team that reached its first NBA Finals in franchise history, and was selected to the Western Conference All-Star team the next season.
The Mavs traded him in 2010 to the Washington Wizards, with whom he suffered a serious knee injury. He also played for the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves before retiring in 2013.
Howard created the Josh Howard Foundation in 2006 with the aim of helping improves lives of those living in low-income areas.
“Beyond Josh’s background as a standout college basketball player and an outstanding career in the NBA, he has a real passion and enthusiasm for working with and developing student-athletes,” said UNT Dallas President Bob Mong. “Those qualities will resonate with recruits, as well as our student body and university community, and will help to quickly elevate the UNT Dallas men’s basketball program.”
