Head Pitt basketball coach Ben Howland completed his sweep of the national coach of the year… Head Pitt basketball coach Ben Howland completed his sweep of the national coach of the year awards, when he was honored as The Associated Press’ college basketball coach of the year.

The AP award is Howland’s fourth national “coach of the year” honor. He is the first Pitt coach to ever win the award. Howland, who just signed a new contract worth in excess of $700,000 per year through the 2009 season, led Pitt to its winningest season in school history (29-5) and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.

Howland beat out Texas Tech’s Bobby Knight, Kansas’ Roy Williams and Oklahoma’s Kelvin Sampson to win the award.

Howland has also won the Naismith Coach of the Year, U.S. Basketball Writer Association Coach of the Year and ESPN the Magazine Coach of the Year. In addition, Howland was also named the Big East Conference Coach of the Year.