UCLA gives Howland new deal

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- UCLA men's basketball Coach Ben Howland has signed a seven-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season.

Howland, 50, will begin his fourth season with the Bruins in November, and has a 91-41 (.684) record since taking over for Steve Lavin in 2003.

UCLA reached the national championship game in 2006 and the national semifinals in 2007, losing both times to eventual national champion Florida.

"There is no place I would rather be coaching than UCLA," Howland said on the school's Web site. "This has always been my dream job. I grew up a Bruin basketball fan and it still is hard for me to believe that I am the caretaker of the program that Coach (John) Wooden built."

Before moving to UCLA, Howland achieved unprecedented success at the University of Pittsburgh, guiding the Panthers to the Sweet 16 in 2002 and 2003.

Howland is one of 28 coaches to take three different programs (UCLA, Pittsburgh and Northern Arizona) to the NCAA Tournament.