If UCLA basketball can fall, anybody can fall.

That should be the lesson learned from this week’s report of UCLA coach Ben Howland — a stern disciplinarian during his time at Pitt — losing control of his once-proud program in Los Angeles.

Howland guided the Bruins to three successive Final Four appearances recently. Tom Izzo at Michigan State and Mike Krzyzewski at Duke are the only other two active coaches to ever do so.

But UCLA was 14-18 two years ago — only its third losing season since 1948 — and is a pedestrian 16-13 this year, in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.

But Howland’s problems run far deeper than the won-loss record. Reports of highly talented freshman recruits partying, drinking and doing drugs before practices, disconnecting with the rest of the team, not answering Howland’s phone calls or participating in team functions, have severely compromised the integrity of the program.

Every coach at every level of sports should pay attention to that story.

They say winning is everything — but is it?

Maintaining respect and reputation for a program has to come first.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon is going through a rough year with the Panthers, but saw fit to let disgruntled, yet ultra-talented freshman Khem Birch leave the team rather than create any unwanted distractions on the court or off.

Pitt will not make the NCAA Tournament this year, but the residue of its down season will be nothing compared to that of UCLA.

There is something to be said about simply doing things the right way.

Butler’s boys basketball program has won seven playoff games the past two years with very little size on its roster. That team wins because it believes in its coach.

Matt Clement has commanded — and earned — the respect of his players, who win with a defense-first mind-set and a selfless approach to the game.

That same selfless approach is what UCLA used to get to those three straight Final Fours.

Slippery Rock University football coach George Mihalik built his program by recruiting true student-athletes with their priorities in order.

While The Rock was in the process of securing a PSAC West co-championship last year, Mihalik had to suspend shutdown cornerback Andre Freeman for a few games for disciplinary reasons.

The coach risked immediate success in exchange for maintaining long-term respect in his program.

Keeping players in uniform who don’t tow the line can result in losing the line — and control of your program.

People who remember Ben Howland during his years at Pitt could never imagine that happening to him.

Apparently, it has.

If the coach doesn’t maintain respect, pride and dignity in his program, nobody else will.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle