Our Staff
Ashley Howard, Head Coach
![Ashley Howard, Head Coach](/uploads/clubs/AshleyHowardBasketballCamps/acashleyhoward1771_final.jpg)
Known as one of the most dynamic recruiters in the country, Ashley Howard enters his second season as La Salle University head men's basketball coach in 2019. Howard most recently spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Villanova, helping the Wildcats to a pair of National Championships.
During his tenure at Villanova, Howard was involved in all aspects of the Villanova program including on-court teaching, player development and recruiting. He was instrumental in helping the Wildcats win two NCAA National Championships and setting a new NCAA record for the most wins in a four-year span.
The Philadelphia native recruited future NBA Draft Picks Mikal Bridges (10th Overall, Phoenix Suns), Jalen Brunson (33rd Overall, Dallas Mavericks), Donte DiVincenzo (17th Overall, Milwaukee Bucks) and Omari Spellman (30th Overall, Atlanta Hawks). He was also a member of the coaching staff that developed Josh Hart into the National Player of the Year in 2016 and a first round draft pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Prior to Villanova, Howard accrued a decade's worth of college coaching experience at three different stops. He began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, Drexel University, in 2002 after injury cut short his playing career for the Dragons.
In 2004, following graduation, Howard was hired as an assistant coach at La Salle by Dr. John Giannini. He spent four years with the Explorers before returning to Drexel in 2008 as an assistant coach to James "Bruiser" Flint. He was part of a staff that led the Dragons to consecutive 20-win seasons, including a school record 29 victories in 2011-12.
In 2012-13, Howard served as an assistant on Chris Mack's staff at Xavier University before landing back in his hometown with Villanova.
"It's an honor and a privilege to be named the head coach at La Salle University," Howard said after he was hired in April 2018. "I chose to coach at La Salle early in my career because of its incredible tradition in the Big 5, its dedication to athletic excellence and its commitment to its student-athletes. To have the opportunity to return to campus and lead this storied basketball program – a program defined by greats such as Gola, Durrett, Brooks, Simmons and Butler – is one for which I'm deeply appreciative."
Howard, who graduated from Drexel in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in communications, is the son of Maurice Howard and Diane Coleman. Maurice played college basketball at the University of Maryland and was a second round draft choice of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
Before that he starred at Monsignor Bonner High School in Lansdowne, Delaware County, where he scored 41 points in a game and averaged 23.8 points per game as a senior. He is married to Ariana Casanovas and has a daughter, Journey, and a newborn son, Ace.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT ASHLEY HOWARD...
Villanova Head Coach Jay Wright
"Ashley is an outstanding coach who made a great impact on our program and University in his five years with us. His passion for mentoring young men and teaching skill has been invaluable in our team's development. La Salle has made a terrific selection and all of us at Villanova are thrilled for Ashley, Ariana and Journey as they embark on this new phase of Ash's career."
La Salle Men's Basketball Alum & Former NBA Player Lionel Simmons
"The hire is well deserved. Ashley put in his dues, he's a Philly guy and he deserves a shot. I think he's going to help us a lot. We have had some tough years as of late. The alumni are excited about the new hire and looking forward to Ashley turning us around. He's been involved in Philadelphia basketball forever, he brings a work ethic and an enthusiasm that can get the players motivated. That's going to be his main focus, to get the guys motivated and heading in the right direction."
Louisville Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Mack
"I'm very happy to hear La Salle's hiring of my good friend Ashley Howard. Ash paid his dues as an assistant coach for many years. His latest experience as part of two National Championships will serve him well. He will do great things at La Salle!"
Former Villanova Standout & 2018 National Player of the Year Jalen Brunson
"Coach Ash helped me grow as a player and as a person. His ability to teach players the game of basketball and encourage them makes him very unique. Being coached by a great person makes relationships last a lifetime."
Kyle Griffin, Assistant Coach
![Kyle Griffin, Assistant Coach](/uploads/clubs/AshleyHowardBasketballCamps/griffin_final.jpg)
Kyle Griffin begins his second season as an assistant coach at La Salle in 2019-20. Griffin, who was a La Salle student-athlete for one season, previously spent two seasons as an assistant at Robert Morris.
A native of Allentown, Pa., Griffin was a standout prep player at Germantown Academy, where he was named Inter-AC Player of the Year and Second Team All-Philadelphia as a senior. A 6-3 guard, he played 15 games as an Explorer in 2007-08 before transferring to Siena where he finished his collegiate career.
As a coach, Griffin spent last two seasons with head coach Andy Toole at Robert Morris from 2016-18. Griffin was a key member of a staff that recruited 10 new student-athletes to RMU prior to the 2017-18 season. Despite the roster turnover, Griffin helped develop the Colonials into a contender in the Northeast Conference, advancing the team to the NEC Tournament semifinals in back-to-back years.
Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Griffin served three years as an assistant coach under Dr. Brett Reed at Lehigh. During his three seasons at Lehigh, he helped guide Lehigh to the 2016 Patriot League Tournament championship game and was instrumental in the development of Tim Kempton and Kahron Ross, who were named 2015 Patriot League Player of the Year and 2015 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, respectively.
Griffin served as Director of Team Events for the Hoop Group before getting his start in the collegiate ranks, managing high school showcases and AAU events. He assisted in the recruitment and organization of the largest event offered by the Hoop Group in the Pittsburgh Jam Fest. Also while with Hoop Group, Griffin was the Director of Operations and Director of the Philly Hoop Group Classic, a Division I tournament that included Pittsburgh, Penn, La Salle, Rider, Robert Morris and James Madison.
Griffin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing and management from Siena
Donnie Carr, Assistant Coach
![Donnie Carr, Assistant Coach](/uploads/clubs/AshleyHowardBasketballCamps/carr_final.jpg)
Donnie Carr, one of the all-time great scorers in La Salle men’s basketball history, begins his third season as an assistant coach at his alma mater in 2019-20.
A star prep player at Roman Catholic High School, Carr compiled 1,470 points over the course of his career in Philadelphia’s highly competitive Catholic League. In a legendary game against Lower Merion, Carr dropped 34 points on eventual 18-time NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant to lead the Cahillites to a 67-61 win.
In his first season with the Explorers in 1996-97, Carr was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as he averaged 23.9 points per contest to pace the league and rank sixth in the country.
Carr led the team in scoring as a sophomore (18.0 ppg) and junior (18.7 ppg), and finished in the A-10’s top four in scoring all four of his seasons. His 19.7 career points per game average is third in A-10 history among players who played in the league for more than one year.
The four-time First Team All-Big 5 honoree is one of only six players in school history to eclipse the 2,000-point plateau, registering 2,067 points over his four-year career with the Explorers. He also ranks second in school history with 308 three-pointers and compiled 404 assists to stand ninth in the category.
“It is an honor to have La Salle and Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Famer Donnie Carr as a member of our coaching staff,” Howard said upon retaining Carr on the coaching staff. “Donnie is a prominent figure in the Philadelphia basketball community, and has dedicated his life to being a great player, a great mentor and a great teacher of the game of basketball. Donnie’s knowledge of the game and life experience is going to help make him a valuable contributor to our coaching staff.”
Following his outstanding collegiate career, Carr went on to play professionally in Turkey and France before injuries forced him to retire from the game in 2004. He played for Turk Telecom, annually one of the top teams in Turkey, and in France for Becanson in 2001-02.
“I’m blessed and thankful to have a chance to work with Coach Howard, who I think is one of the best young coaches in all of college basketball and is a rising star in this business,” Carr said. “There’s not a better person for me to learn from and grow with than Coach Howard. He’s been a mentor, a friend, and it’s a grand slam for La Salle to have someone bringing a championship culture and blueprint to our University.”
An active participant in the Sonny Hill League, Carr played a vital role in the maturation of a number of Philadelphia’s young basketball stars including Dion Waiters (Miami Heat) and former Explorer Rasual Butler.
Prior to returning to La Salle, Carr spent two seasons at Hartford as the coordinator for player development, assisting in the improvement of players through film and statistical analysis.
He has also enjoyed successful stints as an assistant coach with Holy Family University, The Haverford School and at Roman Catholic. In addition, he was the head coach of Philadelphia’s Team Final Under-15 team and served as an assistant on the U-18 squad.
Jamal Robinson, Assistant Coach
![Jamal Robinson, Assistant Coach](/uploads/clubs/AshleyHowardBasketballCamps/102920lasmbbheads0035_final.jpg)
amal Robinson, a former University of Virginia standout that enjoyed a 13-year professional career that included a stint in the National Basketball Association, begins his first season as an assistant coach on Ashley Howard's staff in 2020-21.
A native of Jamaica, Queens, New York, Robinson joined the collegiate ranks as an assistant at Hampton in 2018, following a successful stint as a developmental skill instructor. For nearly a decade, Robinson worked directly with various elite basketball camps, including the Nike Pre-Draft Camp, and assisted in the development of high school, college and professional basketball players.
Before starting his coaching career, Robinson enjoyed a massive amount of success as a player. Over 13 years, the 6-7 forward played professionally at the highest levels in the world.
Robinson trained with various NBA teams, including the Portland Trailblazers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards, before ultimately signing a two-year contract with the Miami Heat. He would go on to play in the CBA, the NBA Developmental League and internationally for over a decade, winning multiple league championships and individual accolades.
As a college player at the University of Virginia, Robinson received ACC All-Tournament Team accolades as a freshman after helping the Cavaliers to the title game. He averaged 16.0 points per game over three contests, totaling 19 points and scoring the game-winning layup in a victory over No. 1 Duke. UVa would make the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and advance to the Elite Eight of the 1995 NCAA Tournament during his sophomore season.
A graduate of Monsignor McClancy in Queens, Robinson was named First Team All-City by the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and Newsday. Following his senior year, he was selected to play for the U.S. All-Stars in the Capital City High School All-American Game at the University of Maryland's Cole Fieldhouse against the Maryland All-Stars. Robinson became the first Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School alum to ever play in the NBA.
John Cox, Director of Basketball Operations
![John Cox, Director of Basketball Operations](/uploads/clubs/AshleyHowardBasketballCamps/102920lasmbbheads0049_final.jpg)
John Cox begins his first season as director of basketball operations at La Salle in 2020-21. A local basketball standout as a high school player at G.W. Carver in Philadelphia, Cox went on to have a successful collegiate career at the University of San Francisco and played professionally for over a decade.
"John Cox brings a lifetime's worth of valuable basketball experience and credibility to our program," Howard said. "His basketball pedigree, organizational skills and ability to cultivate relationships will make him a strong addition to our coaching staff."
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, where his father was a professional basketball player, Cox became one of the top scorers in Philadelphia high school history at George Washington Carver High School. He finished his prep career with 1,798 points and averaged 29 points a game, shooting 52 percent from the field, as a senior.
Following in the footsteps of his father, former NBA Draft Pick John "Chubby" Cox, the younger Cox went on to play four seasons at the University of San Francisco and scored 1,540 points to rank ninth in school history. A 2004-05 First Team All-WCC honoree, he scored 1,066 total points over his junior and senior years alone and was inducted into USF's Hall of Fame in 2019.
After his collegiate career, Cox played professionally from 2005-19 in both Europe and South America. He has represented Venezuela internationally on multiple occasions. Notably, he was part of Venezuela's team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was the leading scorer in the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup.
While an undergraduate student, McGlynn was head student manager for the Towson (Md.) University men's basketball program for four seasons and graduated from the school in 2012 with a bachelor's in sport management. He received his Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Detroit Mercy in 2014.
Mike Doyle, Graduate Assistant Coach
![Mike Doyle, Graduate Assistant Coach](/uploads/clubs/AshleyHowardBasketballCamps/doyle_final.jpg)
Mike Doyle begins his first season with the La Salle men's basketball program as a graduate assistant coach in 2019-20.
Doyle comes to 20th and Olney after playing four seasons at Cabrini University in Radnor, Pa. A three-time member of the Colonial States Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team, Doyle played in 85 games over the course of his career and was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams.
As a junior, Doyle and the Cavaliers went 26-4 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Doyle graduated from Cabrini with a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education in 2019. He was recognized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as a member of its Honors Court.