CALGARY – The University of Calgary community mourns the loss of former Dinos men's basketball coach Gary Howard, who died Wednesday at the age of 85.

Howard is a pillar of Dinos men's basketball, leading the program for an incredible 20 years from 1974-82 and from 1983-95. Over that span, Howard led Calgary to a 187-160 record, with his leadership launching them to the forefront of Canada West and (then) CIAU basketball with a pair of conference titles and four Final 8 appearances.

Howard was a standout university athlete at the University of Brandon. After his time on the court, he quickly transitioned to coaching and was named the head coach of his alma mater in 1969. After six seasons in the Wheat City, Howard came to Calgary and his impact was immediate – going 13-7 with a third-place conference finish in the 1974-75 slate in his first season in the Scarlet & Gold. The following year, he led the program to one of its most successful seasons to date, going 19-1 in conference play and 30-5 overall – claiming the second (now) Canada West banner in program history.

Howard coached three of the four players in the Dinos Hall of Fame from men's basketball, with Tom Bishop, Karl Tilleman and Richard Bohne being the first three Calgary players to be named Canada West Player of the Year.

In all, Howard coached 11 All-Canadians and 42 Canada West All-Stars during his incredibly impactful time on the UCalgary campus.

The Dinos extend our sincere condolences to Gary's family, and his many friends and former players.

-UC-