March 28, 2024

Howell to lead CD girls basketball

Wednesday, April 22, Central Decatur Community Schools announced the hiring of Frank Howell as the new head girls basketball coach, replacing Curtis Boothe after he crossed the locker rooms to coach boys basketball.

Frank Howell comes to Central Decatur after a four year stint as the head women’s basketball coach at Graceland University. In 2019-20, Howell coached Graceland to 4-26 and in 2018-19 he led GU to a 13-17 record.

Previous to his time at Graceland, Coach Howell served as the head girls basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Washington, Audubon, and Dallas Center-Grimes. As a head coach in his career he is 345-172.

He has led eight teams to the IGHSAU State Tournament, bringing one to a state title with three runner-up finishes and two semifinal appearances.

“Coach Howell is widely regarded around the state as a great basketball mind, a tireless worker, and a pillar of character,” said CD athletic director Zach Clark. “We are excited for Coach Howell to become a Central Decatur Cardinal once again. Coach Howell attended Central Decatur in elementary school before moving at the end of his second grade year. He brings our staff and students a wealth of coaching and leadership knowledge as well as a focus on teamwork and building student-athletes into great citizens.”

Howell spent 13 years with Cedar Rapids Washington, going 224-83 in his tenure. At Audubon, he finished 111-77 and at Dallas Center Grimes he was 10-12.

He is an inductee of the Cedar Rapids Washington Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of 2017) and of the Iowa Girls Coaching Association Hall of Fame (Class of 2016).

“He has coached highly successful teams and players and is the perfect fit to continue on the successful tradition of girls basketball at Central Decatur,” said Clark.

In 2019-20, the Central Decatur girls basketball team missed the state tournament for the first time in four consecutive years, all of which were teams Boothe led. The Cards finished 19-4, placing third in the Pride of Iowa with a conference record of 11-2.