UCLA gives Howland a new 7-year deal

UCLA coach Ben Howland, who has guided the Bruins to the Final Four each of the past three years, agreed to a new seven-year contract with the university Tuesday. The deal, which adds one year onto the agreement he signed last October, runs through the 2014-15 season and includes a guaranteed $1.97 million for next season, rising to $2.3 million in the final year of the contract. The incentive package from his previous agreement, a maximum of $235,000, is retained in the new contract.

His previous contract guaranteed compensation of $1.5 million for the 2007-2008 season and a boost to $2 million in the final year. He earned $1.2 million for the 2006-2007 season.

"I have said this before, but there is no place I would rather be coaching than UCLA," Howland said. "I grew up a Bruin basketball fan and this is my dream job.

"UCLA is a special name in college basketball, thanks to coach (John) Wooden, and I am proud to be the caretaker of his program."

Although the Bruins have been to the Final Four the last three years, one of only four schools ever to accomplish that, they have yet to win an NCAA title under Howland. This year, they lost to Memphis in the national semifinals.

The 51-year-old Howland took the Bruins to a school-record for wins on their way to a 35-4 record last season, and they won their third straight Pac-10 title.