Have you met Howie, head coach of Pandas Hockey? History, music and Jack Black are just a few of his favourite things. Spend a few minutes getting to know him better.
What is your first U of A memory?
I was first introduced to the university as a summer hockey camp participant. In those days, the camp was coordinated by Clare Drake and seemed miles ahead of anything else that I had experienced to that point as a young athlete. The campus has changed considerably since then, but it was like another world hanging out there in the summer.
What is something your coworkers do not know about you?
Probably that I’m an avid music lover. During a good chunk of my years with the Athletics Department, I played in a band that had the distinction of having played in almost every venue around the city once — only once though, because we were never invited back!
What is your favorite distraction?
My favorite distraction is going for long walks with my wife, Fahreen, and our labradoodle, Tucker.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
I’m a huge history buff and particularly like reading anything relevant to either of the World Wars. I am fascinated by the various levels of human experience during these periods. I’m not sure what the program or course would be, but I’d love to sit in on some classes that might help me better understand some of these experiences.
What is a weird pet peeve you have?
People who do their best to knock people down rather than lifting them up.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
I’d invite the comedian and actor Jack Black. I’m a big fan of his acting and his sense of humour but he also strikes me as a really great human being.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
I would like to see a live reunion of my all-time favorite band, The Jam. I’d buy a ticket at any cost and jump on the first plane out of town if I knew it was happening.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
I’ve always been a big rule-follower and was pretty risk-averse as a youth. I think I’d tell a young Howie to live life to the fullest (within reason of course) and not get too hung up on what the repercussions might be. Note that I would be hesitant to say the same to my 18-year-old son, Ben!
What is one thing you cannot live without?
I’m having a hard time doing without my Starbucks Venti nonfat London Fog these days! More seriously, I’d have a hard time living without the people I love in my life: my close friends, work friends (particularly the Pandas staff and players) and family (in particular my kids, Stephanie, Jack, and Ben and my wife, Fahreen)!
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Changed my life.
About Howie
Born and raised in Edmonton, Howie first came to the U of A as a Physical Education student in the fall of 1985. He went on to play five seasons with the Golden Bears under legendary coaches Clare Drake and Bill Moores. He was named Head Coach of the Pandas Hockey Team on Sept. 1, 1997 and continues in the role today.