Gary Howard (American football)
| Sport(s) | Football |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
January 3, 1942 Fort Smith, Arkansas |
| Alma mater |
University of Arkansas University of Central Oklahoma (master's) |
| Playing career | |
| 1960–1963 | Arkansas |
| Position(s) | Offensive guard, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1964 | Arkansas (OL) |
| 1965–1966 | Del City HS (assistant) |
| 1967 | Northeastern A&M (OK) (DL) |
| 1968–1976 | Central State (DC) |
| 1977–2002 | Central State / Central Oklahoma |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 161–106–6 |
| Tournaments | 7–6 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 NAIA National (1982), 2 LSC (1998–1999) | |
| Awards | |
| 1 NAIA National Coach of the Year (1982), 2 Lone Star Conference North Coach of the Year (1997, 1998) | |
Gary Howard (born January 3, 1942) is a former American football coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Central Oklahoma—from 1977 to 2002, compiling a career college football record of 161–106–6, four NAIA playoff appearances, three NCAA Division II playoff appearances, two conference championships, and a national championship. He is winningest coach the history of the Central Oklahoma program.
Howard was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He attended Tulsa Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he played football, and basketball under Eddie Sutton. He attended the University of Arkansas and played offensive line and linebacker under Frank Broyles from 1960 to 1963.
Howard began his coaching career in 1964 as the offensive line coach at Arkansas. During that season the team won a share of the National Championship. In 1965 and 1966 Howard was an assistant at Del City High School in Del City, Oklahoma. He was an assistant coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma. While at NEO the Norsemen won the 1967 NJCAA National Football Championship. Prior to the 1968 season, Howard accepted a position at Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Howard became the defensive coordinator at Central State College in 1968 under Phil Ball. In 1977 Howard succeeded Ball as the head coach. He oversaw the program's transition from a brief period in NCAA Division II back to NAIA competition, as an independent. During the first two seasons Howard's Bronchos went 12–8–1. In 1979, he led the Bronchos to the program's third NAIA playoff appearance and an 11–2 record. The Bronchos lost the NAIA National Championship Game to Texas A&I 20–14. Three years later he returned to the playoffs this time winning the NAIA National Championship over Mesa State 14–11. Howard also won the NAIA Coach of the Year award. The next season the Bronchos returned to the playoffs but lost to Saginaw Valley State in the first round. In 1985 the Bronchos lost in the first round to Henderson State in the institution's final NAIA playoff appearance.
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