Getting ready to start his 26th year leading the Owls, Ken Howe is getting ready to mix-and-match his new look Owls after a 29-14 record last season.

The 2011 Owls, featuring the senior duo of Bobby Doyon and Tyler DiPrato, led the KSC skipper to his 450th career victory with a 13-3 win over in-state rival Colby Sawyer on April 27th.  "In recent history we have been more successful but I'll never forget those kids I had play for me at the beginning," said Howe. "I've had some great players, assistant coaches and it's been a real pleasure."

In 2010, the Owls finished with an identical 29-14 record, but earned an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament, and traveled to Cortland, N.Y. After shutting out Skidmore College 1-0 on a brilliant pitching performance from Dan Nelson, the were forced out of the regional tournament with two staright losses.

2009 saw the Owls finish near the top of Division III in most offensive categories including #1 in the country in slugging percentage (.588). The Owls also finished second in batting average (.370), 14th in both hits (560) and runs (434) and 17th in homers (51). KSC finished the season 25-16 and made it to the LEC Championship game after bouncing host Southern Maine from the tournament.

In 2008, Keene State baseball had a program best 34-11 record, a first-ever Little East tournament championship and a second straight NCAA tournament appearance. “We worked very hard to get the program to that level, said Howe.  “We need to work even harder to keep it there.”

Coaching a team in one of the toughest Division III conferences in the country is no easy task. But to his credit, Howe, who led KSC to rankings in national and New England polls, has always seen to it that Keene State has fielded a highly competitive team, and this spring will be no different.

Since joining Division III and the Little East Conference in 1998, Keene State has posted four 20-plus-win seasons and three consecutive 30 victory campaigns, including last spring when they shattered the school record with 34 victories on the way to capturing its first LEC championship and earning its second straight NCAA tournament berth. 

Under his direction, the Owls reached the Conference's postseason tournament on nine occasions, including four trips to the championship game, culminating with last year’s crown. Howe, who was selected as the LEC’s coach of the year in 2008, believes the Owls will be in the hunt for the conference crown once again this spring.

Howe's work at Keene State is a local-boy-makes-good story. A former hard-hitting outfielder for the Keene High Blackbirds, he played two collegiate seasons at the University of Central Florida. After a career-ending injury, Howe returned to Keene, where he received his degree in business management from KSC and began his coaching career. Howe served as both assistant and head women's soccer coach at KSC as well as baseball co-coach through the 1989 season.

Energized by a roster that includes several young but talented newcomers, Howe is pleased not only about where the team has been but also about where it's going. Under Coach Howe, there has been an influx of high-quality student athletes who have a positive effect on the growing program.

A certified umpire who runs several camps in the area, Howe also handles game and contest management during the year at KSC. He lives in Keene with his wife, Merri, and sons Branden and Dustin.