Mark Howlett began his tenure as the 13th head men’s soccer coach at Buffalo State in 2013 and made an immediate impact turning the program in a new direction and was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year. Howlett inherited a team that won only one game in 2012 and had made just two SUNYAC playoff appearances in the previous 14 seasons. With an abbreviated recruiting season, he fielded a roster that featured 15 new faces. Howlett developed the Bengals into one of the most improved teams in Division III, posting an eight-win improvement in one season. Buffalo State finished 9-9-1 overall and 4-5 in league play, earning the program’s first playoff berth since 2007. The Bengals finished the season with 35 goals for versus 27 goals against, compared to 15 for and 50 against in 2012. In two seasons, Howlett has led the Bengals to an overall record of 15-19-3. He has coached five All-SUNYAC selections including two-time honoree Francesco Cardillo.
