Ryan Howard Named ABCA/Diamond Sports Company

NAIA Region V Coach of the Year

Avila University's Baseball Coach, Ryan Howard, S

elected as Top Region Coach

Ryan Howard, will be receiving the American Baseball Coaches Association NAIA Region V Coach of the Year award at the ABCA National Convention being held in San Diego, CA in January of 2009. Avila University's sports teams participate in Region V of the Heart of America Athletic Conference for the NAIA. This award was given to Coach Howard through the recognition of his peers, the Region V Baseball coaches.

Coach Howard enters his 7th year as the Head Baseball Coach for the Eagles compiling an impressive 182-119 record and a .611 winning percentage as the leader of the Eagles. His teams have won two conference championships and have been ranked in the NAIA Top 25 poll five out of the last seven years. In 2004 Howard was named the HAAC Coach of the Year. He has led the Eagles to four 35 win seasons out of seven. An outstanding collegiate athlete himself, Ryan played two years at Bakersfield Junior College before transferring to Avila. After completing his career at Avila, Howard joined the Eagle's coaching staff as an assistant coach and then took over the Eagle program at the age of 24.

A native of Hughson, California, Howard holds the Northern California record for most RBI's in a high school baseball game with 10. Coach Howard now resides in Raymore, MO with his wife Rebecca, an Avila alumni and former Eagle softball player.

Avila University is a private, co-educational, values-based liberal arts institution founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and is located at 119th and Wornall Rd in southwest suburban Kansas City, Mo.

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