Howard averaged 8.9 points and a team-high 4.9 assists per game with the
Drexel Dragons. Howard was a guard for the team between 1999 and 2002, only stopping due to an injury. At that point he became a student assistant coach at Drexel University until 2003. He was co-director of the Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp. In 2004 he became head coach
John Giannini's assistant at
La Salle Explorers. In 2006 he was an assistant coach of the Jamaica National team, accompanying the squad on its Olympic qualifying bid in Kingston. In 2008 he went back to Drexel as assistant coach to
Bruiser Flint.
Villanova Howard joined the Villanova basketball staff in June 2013 and has played a key role as the program has posted more than 140 victories, four
Big East regular season titles and two NCAA national championships in that stretch. Villanova head coach
Jay Wright said: "We're proud to have Ashley join our Villanova Basketball family. I have known Ashley since he was a high school player. He has deep roots in Philadelphia's basketball tradition and gained an appreciation for the
Augustinian values during his days as a student at Monsignor Bonner High School. He will take great pride in representing Villanova." Howard earned two
NCAA Division 1 men's basketball tournament titles with Villanova in 2016 and again in 2018.
La Salle Howard was considered a top candidate for La Salle University's head coaching job. On April 8, 2018, La Salle announced him as the next head coach of the Explorers, succeeding his former boss
John Giannini. During his first season, the Explorers finished 10–21. Howard guided the team to a 15–15 record in the 2019–20 season. Howard was fired in 2022 after an 11–19 season. ==Personal life==