Former Western football coach Jim Howell died Saturday of a heart attack.
Howell was 77. He coached Western for 17 years. He retired after the 1996 season. Toby replaced his father as Western coach weeks later.
Howell’s record at Western was 99-83-5. His final season at Western was one of the better ones as the Pioneers went 12-1 and won the Orange League championship to go with three previous league titles during Howell’s tenure. Howell coached the Pioneers to 11 playoff appearances.
He also was head coach at Magnolia from 1973-77.
Jim Howell was no-nonsense as a coach, kind and thoughful as a man. That’s a good combination for a leader of young people.
Services will take place in Colorado where Howell moved soon after retirement.
