With the success achieved by the Laker Wrestling program over the last 20 years, head coach Mike Howard has made a name for himself in collegiate wrestling. After an outstanding 1996 season, Howard was voted the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference's Coach of the Year for the first time in his career, and an honor he again received in 2002. His wrestlers have been named the ECWC's Most Outstanding Wrestlers in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2001. He has posted a 125-191-5 dual meet record in his 20 years at the Laker helm with the program ranked in the top 25 of Division III in nine of the last 13 years.

At the 2002 NCAA Division III Championships, Howard guided the Lakers to a ninth-place finish in the team standings with three All-Americans. During his tenure, Oswego State has finished in the top twenty at the national tournament on two other occasions, 1996 and 2005.

In 1996, Howard sent his largest contingent to the NCAA Championships after six of the Laker matmen qualified at the ECWC Championships. Two returned with All-American honors for their mantles while the team placed 20th overall in NCAA Division III. During his career, Howard's teams have had 60 NCAA qualifiers, 17 NCAA Division III All-Americans, 17 individual conference champions and 75 New York State Collegiate Championship place winners.

As a competitor, Howard wrestled for the the Lakers for three years at the 167 pound weight class. He began his collegiate career at the University at Buffalo, after becoming the first Oswego High School grappler to capture a Section III individual title. During his career, Howard guided the Lakers as a two-time co-captain. After graduating with a BA in Historical Studies and a minor in Athletic Coaching, Howard remained involved with the program as an assistant under his father, Jim, for three seasons before taking over the reigns in 1989.

Howard also serves as the men's golf coach at Oswego State.