| Nick Howell | |
| Current Title: | Defensive coordinator |
| Current Team: | New Mexico |
| Current Conference: | MWC |
| Birth Date: | 1980 2, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | Ogden, Utah, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | Weber State University (2005) |
| Coach Years1: | 2002 |
| Coach Team1: | Sky View HS (UT) (DL) |
| Coach Years2: | 2003 |
| Coach Team2: | Weber HS (UT) (DC) |
| Coach Years3: | 2004–2006 |
| Coach Team3: | Ben Lomond HS (UT) |
| Coach Years4: | 2007 |
| Coach Team4: | BYU (intern) |
| Coach Years5: | 2008–2009 |
| Coach Team5: | BYU (GA) |
| Coach Years6: | 2010 |
| Coach Team6: | BYU (OLB) |
| Coach Years7: | 2011–2012 |
| Coach Team7: | BYU (ST/DB) |
| Coach Years8: | 2013–2015 |
| Coach Team8: | BYU (DC/DB) |
| Coach Years9: | 2016–2021 |
| Coach Team9: | Virginia (DC/DB) |
| Coach Years10: | 2022–2023 |
| Coach Team10: | Vanderbilt (DC) |
| Coach Years11: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team11: | New Mexico (DC) |
Nicholas Wade Howell (born February 26, 1980) is an American football coach. He is the defensive coordinator at New Mexico.[1]
Howell began his career coaching high school football. He worked from 2002 to 2006 for Sky View High School, Weber High School, and Ben Lomond High School where he was the head coach.
He went to BYU in 2007 as an unpaid defensive intern and became a member of the coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2008 and later a full-time assistant in 2010. While coaching the secondary the 2011 defense was 15th in pass efficiency and 12th in overall defense. In 2012 the BYU's defense finished third nationally in total defense and 10th in passing yards allowed. In 2013, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall promoted Howell to replace him as defensive coordinator. As a full time coordinator Howell's Cougar defense finished 12th nationally in yards per play 16th in pass efficiency and 22nd in scoring defense. They ranked 20th nationally in rush defense in 2014 and sixth nationally in sacks per game in 2015.
Following Mendenhall's departure from Brigham Young University in December 2015 Howell followed him to the University of Virginia. While at Virginia in 2017 Howells's defense ranked seventh in the nations against the pass. In 2018 the Cavaliers finished among the nation's top 20 in opponent pass efficiency. Howell also helped lead Virginia Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and an Orange Bowl Berth tallying a program record 43 sacks. In 2021 the defense stepped up when it mattered most finishing 28th nationally in red zone defense.
Following the end of the 2021 season, Howell was not retained by the new UVA coaching staff but was instead was hired at Vanderbilt in 2022 as their defensive coordinator.[2] While servings as Defensive Coordinator in 2022 the Commodores led the SEC with 12 interceptions and were fourth in the SEC in defensive touchdowns.
After the 2023 season Howell left his position at Vanderbilt with Clark Lea and reunited with Bronco Mendenhall at New Mexico.[3]
Howell grew up in North Ogden, Utah, and graduated in 1998 from Ben Lomond High School, where his father Roger was a longtime high school coach and athletic director. After high School he served a LDS Mission in Brazil. Following his church mission, Howell went to Snow College to play football but his career was cut short when he was injured, so he followed his father into the coaching profession.[4] He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Weber State University and a M.A. from the University of Phoenix. Howell and his wife Brooke have four children.[5]