West Liberty University Men's Basketball

Howlett is back for his sixth season as assistant mens basketball coach under legendary head man Jim Crutchfield.     Howlett has played a major role in helping lead the high-powered Hilltoppers to five straight NCAA Division II Sweet 16s, four Elite Eight national championship tournaments, two Final Fours and the 2014 national championship game.     The highest-scoring team in the nation, West Liberty has averaged more than 31 wins a year during Howletts five seasons as a Hilltopper assistant, posting an eye-popping 156-17 (.902) record during that span.     Before picking up the clipboard, the Marietta, Ohio native was a standout guard on four consecutive 20-win teams under Crutchfield from 2005-09, averaging more than 20 points a game in each of his final two seasons. He finished his career ranked among the schools Top 15 all-time scorers with 1,663 career points while shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor.     Howletts experience and success in the Crutchfield system combined with his singular drive and determination have produced quite a jump start for his young coaching career.     During that time, the Hilltoppers have collected 21 Conference Player of the Week Awards and garnered 7 first-team All-Conference selections, 4 Conference Player of the Year Awards and 4 Atlantic Region Player of the Year Awards.     Alex Falk, Cedric Harris and Seger Bonifant were consensus first-team NCAA Division II All-Americans with Falk being named the 2013 NCAA Division II National Player of the Year and Bonifant earning back-to-back National Player of the Year honors in 2015 and 2016.     In addition to his outstanding success in player development, Howlett has taken on additional duties during his stint on the Hilltopper coaching staff. These areas include recruiting, opponent and self-scouting, strength and conditioning, film work and scheduling.     A blurry-fast 6-0 scoring guard during his playing days, Howlett was a second-team All-WVIAC pick in 2007-08 when he averaged 20.1 ppg. before making his mark on the national stage as a senior. In his final varsity season, Howlett emerged as the fourth-leading NCAA Division II scorer in the nation (23.0 ppg.) and also ranked among the top 20 nationally in field-goal percentage (.611). He was a first-team All-WVIAC and second-team NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region honoree.     Howlett made a swift transition from player to coach as a West Liberty student assistant during the 2009-10 season, helping guide the Hilltoppers to a Top 10 national ranking and their first West Virginia Conference championship in 50 years.     Howlett left West Liberty to join former WLU assistant Mike Snells staff at Ohio Valley University for the 2010-11 season. Working primarily with the guards as an assistant coach with the Fighting Scots, Howlett helped OVU rank fourth in the 15-team WVIAC in assists over the course of the season before accepting Crutchfields offer to return to his alma mater as an assistant coach.     A resident of West Liberty, Howlett also serves as director of the Hilltopper Basketball Camp, a fast-growing instructional clinic which draws a number of talented youngsters (Grades 5-12) to the WLU campus every summer.  

Michael Lamberti returned to his alma mater in 2025 as the head coach of the West Liberty men's basketball team, bringing a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the program's traditions. A former standout player for the Hilltoppers from 2012 to 2016, Lamberti contributed to a remarkable 123-14 record during his tenure, including four conference championships and three NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances. In his first season at Coker, Michael Lamberti guided the Cobras  to a berth in the SAC Tournament. He played a pivotal role in the development of Andre Leavell, who was named SAC Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors after leading the league in both points and assists per game. Leavell also set a school single-game scoring record with 42 points against Emory & Henry. Lamberti’s up-tempo offensive system quickly made an impact, with Coker averaging a program-record 100.1 points per game — tops in the SAC and third nationally. The Cobras also broke school records for most points in a single game (120 vs. Mars Hill) and most three-pointers made in a game (19 vs. Newberry). Freshman Hayden Abdullah thrived under Lamberti’s leadership as well, earning a spot on the SAC All-Freshman Team and finishing the season as the conference leader in blocked shots. After earning his degree in Finance and Accounting from West Liberty, he completed a master's degree in the Science of Leadership at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Lamberti began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Embry-Riddle before returning to West Liberty as an assistant coach in 2018. During his time as an assistant, he played a pivotal role in the Hilltoppers' success, including multiple MEC championships and NCAA tournament appearances. The Lamberti family shares a strong connection to West Liberty University. Michael and his wife, Emily — an alumni and former standout of the Hilltoppers’ women’s basketball program — reside in Wheeling, West Virginia, with their son, Enzo and newborn daughter Francesca.

Assistant coach Dr. Aaron Huffman brings his impressive coaching resume to the West Liberty men’s basketball staff for the 15th consecutive season.  Since joining the West Liberty men’s coaching staff in 2011, Coach Huffman has been a steady presence on the country’s most dominant NCAA Division II men’s basketball program.  Working alongside former head coaches Ben Howlett and Jim Crutchfield, Huffman has helped guide the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Division II national tournament in every season that Huffman has been on the staff.  Even more impressive, the Hilltoppers have won conference championships in 13 of Huffman’s 14 seasons on the staff, in addition to 6 conference tournament championships.  At the national level, Huffman has been on the staff for many deep tournament runs in the NCAA Division II national tournament, including 9 NCAA Sweet Sixteens, 7 NCAA Elite Eights, 4 NCAA Final Fours, and 2 NCAA national championship game appearances.  During Huffman’s 14 seasons on the WLU men’s bench, the Hilltoppers have posted an incredible win-loss record of 401-58 (.874) — tops among all NCAA men’s basketball programs, regardless of division.  In 2020, Huffman was named to the top “50 Impactful Division II Assistants” by Silver Waves Media. Huffman began his college basketball coaching career in 1999 as a women’s assistant under legendary Hilltopper Hall of Famer Lynn Ullom, helping the WLU women reel off back-to-back WVIAC conference regular-season and tournament titles in 1999-00 and in 2000-01.  In the 2001-02 season, Huffman served an assistant men’s coach and the recruiting coordinator for West Liberty men’s coach Dan Petri. From 2002-2008, Huffman enjoyed an incredibly successful run as the head men’s basketball coach at nearby Bethany College (NCAA Division III) where he was honored as the PAC “Coach of the Year” three times – posting a sparkling record of 112-53 (.679), including 3 PAC regular-season titles, 3 PAC tournament championships, and a trio of NCAA Division III national tournament bids.  Under his leadership, Huffman’s Bethany Bison also set a PAC conference record with 29 consecutive conference wins. Coach Huffman returned to West Liberty in 2008-09 and rejoined Ullom's women's basketball staff for three seasons, helping the lady Hilltoppers to three 20-win seasons and two NCAA tournament bids before joining Coach Crutchfield’s men’s basketball staff in 2011. Overall, in his 26 years of coaching college basketball, Huffman has accumulated a vast resume of dominance and winning.  As either a men’s or women’s head or assistant coach, Coach Huffman has been part of an unheard of 18 conference championships and 11 conference tournament championships.  He has been to the NCAA national tournament 21 times, including 9 NCAA Sweet Sixteens, 7 NCAA Elite Eights, 4 NCAA Final Fours, and 2 NCAA national championship game appearances. In addition to his coaching duties, Huffman has served in various administrative and academic roles.  A Professor of Education in the WLU College of Education and Human Performance, Huffman served as West Liberty’s Athletic Director in 2015-2016 and was WLU’s NCAA Compliance Coordinator and Athletic Facilities Building Supervisor from 2000-2002.  He had two separate stints as NCAA Compliance Coordinator at Bethany College from 2002-2004 and was Bethany’s Summer Athletic Facilities Supervisor from 2003-2008. Huffman is nationally licensed as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).  A graduate of Waynesburg (Pa.) Central High School, Huffman earned his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University (WVU) in Secondary Education with a minor in Mathematics in 1997.  He earned his master’s degree in Athletic Coaching Education from WVU in 2000 and went on to earn his doctorate degree in Higher Education Administration from WVU in 2013, minoring in Higher Education Technology and Physical Education Teacher Education.  Huffman resides in West Liberty with his wife, Courtney, a long-time WLU Professor of Dental Hygiene, and their three children—Jacob (a WLU men’s track team member), Jillian (a WLU women’s basketball & track team member), and Josh (a senior at Wheeling Park High School).        26 total college seasons (men & women, head & assistant coaching):   18 conference championships 11 conference tournament championships 21 trips to the NCAA national tournament 9 trips to the NCAA national Sweet 16 7 trips to the NCAA national Elite Eight 4 trips to the NCAA national Final Four 2 trips to the NCAA national championship game       Year School Position Result Record Conference National 1999-00 West Liberty Asst. Women’s Coach (Ullom) 23-7 WVIAC Champions WVIAC Tourney Champions NCAA 1st Round 2000-01 West Liberty Asst. Women’s Coach (Ullom) 25-5 WVIAC Champions WVIAC Tourney Champions NCAA 1st Round 2001-02 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Petri) 14-14 WVIAC 6th place WVIAC Tourney Quarterfinals   2002-03 Bethany Head Men’s Coach 11-15 PAC 6th place PAC Tourney Semifinals   2003-04 Bethany Head Men’s Coach 18-9 PAC 2nd place PAC Tourney Runner-Up   2004-05 Bethany Head Men’s Coach 24-4 * PAC Champions PAC Tourney Champions NCAA 1st Round 2005-06 Bethany Head Men’s Coach 23-5 * PAC Champions PAC Tourney Champions NCAA 1st Round 2006-07 Bethany Head Men’s Coach 19-9 * PAC 2nd place PAC Tourney Semifinals   2007-08 Bethany Head Men’s Coach 17-11 PAC Champions PAC Tourney Champions NCAA 1st Round 2008-09 West Liberty Asst. Women’s Coach (Ullom) 24-7 WVIAC 2nd place WVIAC Tourney Runner-Up   2009-10 West Liberty Asst. Women’s Coach (Ullom) 22-10 WVIAC 2nd place WVIAC Tourney Runner-Up NCAA 1st Round 2010-11 West Liberty Asst. Women’s Coach (Ullom) 25-7 WVIAC 2nd place WVIAC Tourney Quarterfinals NCAA 2nd Round 2011-12 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Crutchfield) 32-3 WVIAC Champions WVIAC Tourney Champions NCAA Elite Eight 2012-13 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Crutchfield) 34-2 WVIAC Champions WVIAC Tourney Champions NCAA Final Four 2013-14 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Crutchfield) 31-4 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Runner-Up NCAA National Runner-Up 2014-15 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Crutchfield) 28-4 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Semifinals NCAA Sweet 16 2015-16 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Crutchfield) 31-4 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Semifinals NCAA Final Four 2016-17 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Crutchfield) 28-4 MEC 2nd place MEC Tourney Champions NCAA 1st Round 2017-18 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 26-4 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Semifinals NCAA 1st Round 2018-19 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 28-5 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Runner-Up NCAA Sweet 16 2019-20 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 27-4 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Champions NCAA Tournament # 2020-21 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 18-5 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Runner-Up NCAA Elite Eight 2021-22 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 29-3 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Champions NCAA 1st Round 2022-23 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 33-4 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Champions NCAA National Runner-Up 2023-24 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 26-7 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Runner-Up NCAA 2nd Round 2024-25 West Liberty Asst. Men’s Coach (Howlett) 30-5 MEC Champions MEC Tourney Runner-Up NCAA Elite Eight     * PAC Coach of the Year     # NCAA Tournament canceled due to Covid-19    

Greg Bearer brings a strong mix of on-court experience, player development expertise, and coaching versatility to the Hilltop. A native of Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Bearer played his collegiate basketball at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), where he suited up for one of the top programs in NCAA Division II. During his senior year in 2018-19, he started all 25 games for the Crimson Hawks and was known for his leadership, steady presence in the backcourt, and basketball IQ. After graduating, Bearer quickly transitioned into the coaching world. He began his career at DME Sports Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, one of the premier prep and player development programs in the country. There, Bearer served as an assistant coach for the high school national team and also led DME's White Team, developing training plans and overseeing workouts for a large group of aspiring student-athletes. His time at DME gave him the opportunity to work closely with players at varying stages of their development, instilling in him a deep understanding of how to teach the game and prepare athletes for the next level. Bearer continued to climb the coaching ladder, joining the staff at Coker University as an assistant coach—working under then-head coach Mike Lamberti, who now leads the Hilltoppers. The pair built a strong professional relationship based on trust, shared values, and a vision for high-level Division II basketball. Their chemistry and aligned coaching philosophies now continue at West Liberty, where they reunite to guide one of the nation's most consistently successful programs.