The 2019-20 academic year will mark John Howard’s 15th year at Colorado School of Mines.
Under Howard’s direction, the 2018-2019 year was another successful club sport campaign with 550+ student athletes, 70 officers and 30 coaches competing on 19 competitive clubs. Since taking over the club sport program, Howard has guided club sports to unprecedented success. Each of the 19 clubs has had their best season during his tenure. Mines clubs have qualified for numerous regional and national competitions culminating in three national championships. Howard has also been a leader in risk management and care for student athletes. He spearheaded a training program certifying all club sport members in first aid, CPR and AED training along with adding athletic trainers for better care of student athletes.
Howard also led Intramural sports to impressive participation (3,500), teams (550) and games (700) in 2018-2019 academic year competing in 30+ leagues/tournaments highlighted by 35% students participating in at least one intramural event. The men’s and women’s basketball championships were crowned at the Pepsi Center following a Denver Nuggets game.
Howard has been an active member of NIRSA. For nine years he served as NIRSA - NCS Region V Soccer Coordinator where his responsibilities included stats, scores, standings and rankings of 75+ teams in the eight-state region. He also planned, hosted and served as tournament director for each of the first nine annual Region V Championships. He also developed online regional schedules, scores, standings and rankings. He has also served on the NIRSA Championship Series Soccer Championships Staff providing support for 96 teams with championship aspirations.
Howard’s career had an intriguing beginning in the United States Air Force. While serving his country in Kuwait, Germany and other locations worldwide, Howard provided intramural and club sport programming earning numerous medals and ribbons including: Air Force Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Medal and NATO Service Medal.
Howard served as a Facilities and Special Events graduate assistant at Western Illinois University. He planned, programmed and evaluated special events as well as served as manager on duty and first line responder of the student recreation center. He was also responsible for recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training and evaluating student staff positions within campus recreation.
Howard, who went on to earn his master's degree from Western Illinois in 2005, currently resides in the Denver area with his family.
