Troy welcomes new men’s basketball coach

Troy announced the hiring of its new head men’s basketball coach, Adam Howard, on Saturday. He was officially introduced at a press conference on Monday afternoon. 

Howard returns to Troy following the departure of Scott Cross, who spent seven seasons as the head coach. Cross earned a combined four Sun Belt Tournament and Regular Season titles along with two consecutive bids to the NCAA Tournament. 

Prior to the Scott Cross era, former head coach Phil Cunningham’s staff featured Howard as an assistant coach from 2016-18. During that time, Howard was a member of the 2017 conference championship team and part of Troy’s second-ever March Madness appearance. Now, he returns to Troy with a new title. 

“​​Without Troy, I wouldn’t have been able to go on and do the things I’ve done in my year and work with the people I have,” Howard said. “That’s why Troy is so special to us.  

“This opportunity to lead this program means the world to me. I didn’t grow up in Troy, I didn’t go to college in Troy, but Troy gave me something that no place in America had given me. It gave my family another shot at our future, and an opportunity to be a head coach here, so I’m extremely grateful.” 

Howard’s hire is the first head coaching hire that has been made by recently appointed athletic director Kyle George. 

“[Adam] is a players’ coach, and he greatly values the relationships that come with the game of basketball,” George said. “Our head coach is going to continue to build upon relationships to grow young men to be great Trojans for life.” 

Along with spending time as an assistant coach at Troy, Howard assisted at Morehead State, Southern Miss, Tennessee, South Alabama, Nebraska and NC State. He has 16 years of coaching experience, along with a playing career at Western Kentucky from 2004-08. 

With a mostly offensive role at NC State under former head coach Will Wade, Howard helped the Wolfpack to a 38.8 3-point percentage, ranking ninth nationally. The team also was 28th in 3-pointers per game and 29th in scoring. NC State fell to Texas this season in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament. 

Howard now inherits a team with five consecutive seasons of 20-plus wins, and back-to-back conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.  

Troy men’s basketball will begin the Adam Howard era this November.