Sources: Howland to coach Miss. St.

Ben Howland has agreed to a four-year contract to become Mississippi State's head coach, multiple sources told ESPN.

Howland will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday.

The four-year contract is the maximum length of a deal allowed for a state employee under Mississippi law.

Howland, 57, led the UCLA Bruins to three consecutive Final Four appearances from 2006 to 2008. He took UCLA to a first-place finish in the Pac-12 in 2012-13 but was fired after the season.

He has been a television analyst the past two years.

Howland would replace Rick Ray, who was fired Saturday after three seasons in Starkville. The Bulldogs were 13-19 this season and 37-60 in Ray's tenure.

ESPN.com's Andy Katz contributed to this report.