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The Howard File

Personal Information
Birthday	August 6
Hometown	Ashland, Ky.
Education	Western Kentucky, 2008
Playing Career	Western Kentucky, 2004-08
Wife	Renee
Children	Eli, Emma, Easton

Coaching History
2026-Present	Troy - Head Coach
2026	NC State - Assistant Coach
2022-25	Nebraska - Assistant Coach
2021-22	South Alabama - Associate Head Coach
2018-21	South Alabama - Assistant Coach
2016-18	Troy - Assistant Coach
2014	Tennessee - Assistant Coach
2012-14	Southern Miss - Assistant Coach
2010-12	Morehead State - Assistant Coach
2009-10	Morehead State - Graduate Assistant

One of the top assistant coaches in the country, Adam Howard begins his first season as Troy's head coach for the 2026-27 season; he is the eighth head men’s basketball coach in Troy program history.

Howard brings 16 years of coaching experience to Troy and has built a reputation as one of the game’s premier offensive minds and an elite recruiter. He was selected to participate in the 2023 and 2024 TopConnect Basketball Symposiums, an annual event featuring many of the nation’s top assistant coaches.

Howard, who has participated in five NCAA Tournaments as a player and coach, begins his second stint as a Trojan, having served as an assistant coach with Troy from 2016-18, where he helped guide the Trojans to their first NCAA appearance in almost 15 years.

Howard joins the Trojans following one season at NC State, where he served as an assistant on Will Wade’s staff, helping guide the Wolfpack to an NCAA Tournament appearance while overseeing the team’s offense.

NC State ranked ninth nationally in 3-point percentage (38.8), 28th in 3-pointers per game (10.2) and 29th in scoring (83.2 points per game).

Prior to his time in Raleigh, Howard spent three seasons on Nebraska’s bench under head coach Fred Hoiberg.

During the 2023-24 season, the Huskers finished 23-11, the second-most wins in program history, and earned their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. Nebraska averaged 77.7 points per game, its highest mark since the 1995-96 season, and exceeded expectations after being picked 12th in the preseason Big Ten poll, finishing tied for third — its best conference finish in more than 30 years.

The season included two wins over top-10 opponents, highlighted by an 88-72 victory over No. 1 Purdue, the program’s first win over a top-ranked team since 1982.

Prior to Nebraska, Howard spent four seasons at South Alabama from 2018-22, where he was promoted to associate head coach prior to his final season.

His defenses ranked among the nation’s best, finishing in the top 50 nationally in each of his final two years. The Jaguars recorded 200 or more steals in multiple seasons and averaged nearly seven per game.

South Alabama posted a 75-51 record during his tenure after entering his arrival on a five-year stretch of losing seasons.

In his first season with the Trojans, Troy earned a bid to the 2017 NCAA, the program’s first since 2003. The 22 wins were also the most since that year and a 13-win improvement from the year prior. Howard was instrumental in the development of Jordan Varnado and Wesley Person, who rank first and second on Troy’s all-time scoring list.

Troy also posted the highest GPA among Sun Belt programs in both seasons Howard was on staff.

Prior to Troy, Howard spent the 2014 season at Tennessee, where he helped develop Josh Richardson. Richardson, a First Team All-SEC selection, was the 40th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

Howard was also responsible for signing Kevin Punter to the Vols, who was 12th in the nation in scoring as a senior and holds the Tennessee record for most points by a two-year player with 905.

Howard spent two seasons with Southern Miss from 2012-14, with the Golden Eagles compiling a 56-17 record with two postseason appearances during his time on staff. Winning a share of the Conference USA title, Southern Miss won a school record of 29 games during the 2013-14 season.

Howard began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Morehead State in 2009, and the following season was promoted to a full-time role.

In his second season on staff, the Eagles went 25-10 and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament, where they upset No. 4-seeded Louisville in the first round. Two players from that Morehead State team went on to play professionally, including first round pick Kenneth Faried.

A four-year letterwinner, Howard played collegiately at Western Kentucky from 2004–08. He was part of three teams that advanced to postseason play, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2008.

Western Kentucky won 96 games during Howard’s four seasons, as he was a three-time recipient of the Danny Rumph Most Outstanding Teammate Award.

A native of Ashland, Ky., Howard and his wife, Renee, have two sons, Eli and Easton, and a daughter, Emma.

Troy University Athletics

2026-27 Basketball (M) Coaching Staff

Coaching Staff