BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – West Liberty’s Ben Howlett has been named the Mountain East Conference Men’s Sports Coach of the Year, the league office announced on Monday afternoon. A West Liberty head coach has now earned the honor for three-consecutive years after Danny Irwin was honored in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
 
Howlett led West Liberty to the NCAA Division II men’s basketball title game for the second time in school history back in March, finishing as national runner-up with a record of 33-4. West Liberty also extended its postseason streak to 14-straight seasons and won the MEC Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2022-23. Howlett was named the Furfari Award winner as the West Virginia College Coach of the Year. This season, West Liberty led all of Division II in 3-point field goals per game (12.5), assists per game (21.9), and assist/turnover ratio (1.93), while also ranking second in the nation in scoring offense (99.6) and scoring margin (+18.8).
 
In addition, West Liberty’s 33 wins this season were the program’s most since a school record 34 wins set back in 2012-13. The Hilltoppers also secured their first 30-win season since 2015-16 (sixth in program history).

The MEC Men's Sports Coach of the Year is selected by a vote of institutional administrators and the conference office.

Previous Winners
2014-15: Chris Grassie (Soccer, Charleston)
2015-16: Monte Cater (Football, Shepherd)
2016-17: Jerrod Calhoun (Basketball, Fairmont State)
2017-18: Dan Stratford (Soccer, Charleston)
2018-19: Mike Jacobs (Football, Notre Dame)
2019-20: Dan Stratford (Soccer, Charleston)
2020-21: Danny Irwin (Wrestling, West Liberty)
2021-22: Danny Irwin (Wrestling, West Liberty)
2022-23: Ben Howlett (Basketball, West Liberty)