Howland shows class

Ben Howland kept it classy in departing as UCLA men’s basketball coach, thanking the athletic director who fired him a day earlier while noting the high expectations that come with running a program that owns a record 11 national championships. Howland was applauded by supporters as he walked into a news conference at Pauley Pavilion on Monday. The 55-year-old coach expressed gratitude for his 10-year run in Westwood, the longest tenure since John Wooden retired in 1975 after 27 years on the sideline. Howland says he’s excited about the future and wants to coach again, although he doesn’t know where or when. He said he wanted to speak one last time at UCLA so he could publicly thank his current and former players and his staff. – AP