IU Indy's next basketball coach won 85% of games at Division II school, was second in scoring

Indianapolis Star

22-05-2025

INDIANAPOLIS — If the new coach's style translates from Division II to Division I, the IU Indy men's basketball program will be scoring plenty of points in the near future.
Ben Howlett, who compiled a 217-37 record in eight seasons at Division II West Liberty (West Virginia), is the next IU Indy coach, a source close to the situation said Thursday, and will be announced early next week. Howlett took West Liberty to the Division II NCAA tournament every year of his tenure other than the 2020 season when the tournament was canceled. West Liberty was the national runner-up in 2023 and made two other Elite Eight appearances, including last season with a 30-5 record.
Howlett, 38, was a star player at West Liberty under the highly successful Jim Crutchfield, who left in 2017 for Nova Southeastern. After six seasons as an assistant for Crutchfield from 2011-17, he was hired as his former coach's replacement.
'It's a challenge to follow in the footsteps of a legend like Jim Crutchfield but it's also a tremendous opportunity,' Howlett said when he was hired. 'I'm not coach Crutchfield and I won't try to be, but we've spent a lot of time together on and off the court over the years and I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned from him, not just about basketball but about life.'
Howlett, a native of Marietta, Ohio, built teams at West Liberty that play an up-tempo offensive style. West Liberty averaged 100.2 points per game last season on the way to a 30-5 record. The Hilltoppers averaged 32.5 3-point attempts per game and shot 36.6% from the 3-point line. The only team that averaged more points in Division II than West Liberty was Crutchfield's Nova Southeastern (101.7 ppg).
West Liberty ranked fourth in Division II in 3-point attempts per game, second in assists per game (22.3), fifth in fast break points (21.0), ninth in steals per game (10.8), third in 3-pointers made per game (11.9) and fourth in turnovers forced per game (19.7).
The hiring comes just nine days after IU Indy fired Paul Corsaro after just one season. The Jaguars showed improvement, finishing 10-22, but Corsaro was fired after the school conducted an investigation into allegations citing 'deep concerns regarding the culture and treatment of student athletes within the IU Indianapolis men's basketball program under head coach Paul Corsaro.'
News: Paul Corsaro denies allegations that led to firing as IU Indy men's basketball coach
In a statement to IndyStar, IU Indy's athletic department said: 'Last month, IU Indianapolis Athletics received allegations from six individuals who had played under coach Paul Corsaro at IU Indianapolis. Based on the complaints, the IU office of vice president and general counsel conducted an investigation and concluded that Corsaro's behavior did not meet the university's values and standards regarding the treatment of student athletes. Based on these conclusions, IU Indianapolis has dismissed Paul Corsaro. The search for a new coach will begin immediately.'
The search concluded with the hiring of Howlett. IU Indy has eight players committed in the incoming recruiting class, including Zionsville standout Maguire Mitchell and former local standouts in Eastern Kentucky transfer Micah Davis (Franklin) and St. Bonaventure transfer Jaxon Edwards (Cathedral). Among the top returners for IU Indy is former Fishers standout Keenan Garner, who averaged 5.3 points and 4.8 rebounds as a freshman last season.