It’s official. UCLA has canned Coach Ben Howland after a disastrous season culminating in a first-round NCAA tournament exit against Minnesota.

This came as little surprise. Reports surfaced Saturday that the Bruins would axe Howland, who was around for 10 seasons but hadn’t made it to the Sweet Sixteen since consecutive Final Four runs from 2006 to 2008. He enters the unemployment line with a combined 230-105 record with the Bruins.

Here’s Chris Foster of the L.A. Times earlier Sunday on the impending move, including some interesting financial issues surrounding it.

For starters, UCLA officials will have to act quickly or it will cost them an additional $2 million in Howland’s buyout.
Howland’s contract runs through 2017 after he received extensions in 2009 and 2010. He would receive a $3.2 million buyout if terminated by April 2 and $5.2 million if terminated after that date.

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