Landa, Howie

Landa is considered one of the greatest junior college coaches in America. He was also the coach of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) for a short time in 1994. Howie is a member of the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
After a stellar career at Central High School in Philadelphia, Landa played at Lebanon Valley College in the early 1950s, where he established 16 individual records. In 1953, he was the team�s leading scorer, and the Flying Dutchmen won the Middle Atlantic Conference and were invited to the NCAA tournament after LaSalle and St. John�s chose to play in the NIT instead. With an enrollment of only 425 students in its tournament appearance year of 1953, Lebanon Valley holds the distinction of being the smallest school to ever play in the NCAA tournament ().

The top field goal shooting team in the nation, Lebanon Valley pulled off the biggest upset of the 1953 tournament when they defeated Fordham in the first round of the East Regional, 80-67. Landa played the entire game and scored 21 points (second most on the team), and Lebanon Valley did not make a substitution in the win. In the East semifinals, Landa scored 18 points but fouled out; and Lebanon Valley lost the game, 89-76, to the Bob Pettit-led LSU (Louisiana State University) squad. In the Regional consolation game, Landa scored 13 points, had nine assists, and grabbed eight rebounds but Lebanon Valley lost to Wake Forest, 91-71.

After graduating, Landa played in the Eastern Pro League in the 1950s and was named All-League in 1957. In 1963, Landa became the head coach at Mercer County College in Trenton, New Jersey, a position he held for the next 26 years. His team competed four times for the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship, winning twice. Landa also led Mercer to 10 Regional Championships and 15 District Championships. He was named NJCAA Region XIX Coach of the Year ten times, and National Coach of the Year three times.

In 1972-73, Landa coached the Allentown Jets in the Eastern Pro League, and was named Coach of the Year. In 1989, he became an assistant coach at UNLV under Jerry Tarkanian. From 1990-1994, he was also an assistant coach for the women's basketball team. In 1994, Howie coached the Running' Rebels for seven games as interim coach, compiling a record of 5-2.

Landa is a member of the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the Lebanon Valley College Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania All Sports Hall of Fame, the Mercer County College Coaches Hall of Fame, and the NJCAA

Origin:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Physical description:
5'9"

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