Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame
HOWARD “HOWDY” MYERS
Howard “Howdy” Myers served as Hofstra’s director of athletics, head men’s lacrosse coach and head football coach for a quarter of a century. His extraordinary coaching talents in both lacrosse and football from 1950 to 1975 made Howdy a legend in both sports. Howdy was personally credited with the tremendous growth of lacrosse on Long Island, through the creation of scholastic clinics and demonstrations in the 1950s, and leading the Hofstra Lacrosse program to national prominence. He was years ahead of the intercollegiate athletic world with his use of many coaching innovations in both lacrosse and football.
As Hofstra Lacrosse coach, Howdy coached 26 seasons (1950-75) and recorded a 214-139-4 record. He coached Flying Dutchmen teams that captured eight divisional championships and made four NCAA Division I Championship Tournament appearances. In 1970 he received the F. Morris Touchstone Award as the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division I Coach of the Year. In 1971 Howdy received the Governor’s Trophy for providing continuous and meaningful contributions to lacrosse. That same year he received lacrosse’s highest honor when he was inducted into the United States Lacrosse Hall of Fame. As Hofstra’s football coach for 25 years (1950-74), Coach Myers recorded 15 winning seasons and a 141-98-4 record. In 1959 he led the Flying Dutchmen to the first undefeated (9-0-0) season in Hofstra Football history.
Howard “Howdy” Myers passed away in 1980. Hofstra’s connection to the Myers family includes his son, Howard Myers III, his daughter, Dorsey Donnelly, and his son-in-law, William Donnelly, who are all Hofstra alumni.
A sculpture of Howdy Myers, created by artist Peter Homestead, stands in front of the Pavilion facing the Shuart Stadium field. In creating the sculpture, Mr. Homestead worked from photographs and consultations with Coach Myers’ family and friends. The completed sculpture captures the spirit and strength of Howdy Myers. Alumni and friends of Howdy have joined together to establish the Howard M. Myers, Jr. Endowed Athletic Scholarship in his honor. In 2002 Hofstra created the Howard “Howdy” Myers Award, which is presented to a male student-athlete in recognition of outstanding leadership and athletic performance.
