Howard returns to Michigan as new hoops coach
Miami Warmth assistant and former Michigan star Juwan Howard has been named the brand new head coach of the Wolverines, the college introduced Wednesday.
Howard obtained a five-year deal, beginning at $2 million yearly, Michigan mentioned.
He replaces John Beilein, who left Michigan final week to change into the top coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Beilein was with the Wolverines for 12 seasons, main them to 2 nationwide championship video games.
“As a ‘Michigan Man’ I do know the place our program has in faculty basketball and I embrace the prospect to construct onto that historical past and lead us to championships each within the Huge Ten and nationwide stage,” Howard mentioned in an announcement. “We are going to proceed to develop younger males on the court docket, within the classroom and in the neighborhood that our fan base will proceed to be pleased with.”
Howard met with Michigan officers earlier this week, and have become the front-runner as soon as Windfall’s Ed Cooley withdrew from consideration and introduced he was returning to the Friars.
Howard, 46, was a member of Michigan’s Fab 5 recruiting class in 1991, together with Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. Throughout Howard’s three seasons in Ann Arbor, he helped lead the Wolverines to 2 nationwide championship video games and an Elite Eight look. He averaged 15.three factors and seven.5 rebounds throughout his Michigan profession.
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The varsity later eliminated the Fab 5’s Last 4 banners from Crisler Area as a part of self-imposed sanctions that stemmed from one of many NCAA’s largest monetary scandals.
“We’ve discovered somebody with excessive integrity, nice character and a coach who has unbelievable data of the sport of basketball,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel mentioned. “Juwan has confirmed himself to be an amazing chief, a beautiful communicator and a developer of expertise. We could not have requested for a greater position mannequin for the younger males in our program. We’re excited to welcome again a member of the household to Ann Arbor.”
After Michigan, Howard performed for 19 seasons within the NBA, spending time with eight franchises. He gained two NBA championships with the Warmth, in 2012 and ’13, and earned NBA All-Star honors in 1996.
Since retiring in 2013, Howard has been an assistant coach with the Warmth underneath Erik Spoelstra. He interviewed for a number of NBA openings this spring, together with these of the Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers.
“It was at all times going to take one thing extremely particular to for me to depart Miami; nonetheless, I do know in my coronary heart that is the correct place and the correct time,” Howard mentioned.
Added Spoelstra: “Juwan is an absolute star as an individual, participant and coach. I really feel he’s greater than prepared. He’s a terrific chief and mentor, which interprets very effectively to the collegiate stage. … He’ll ceaselessly be a champion and a part of the Warmth household.”
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Jay Williams explains why he feels that Juwan Howard is the correct rent for Michigan as a result of he can relate to recruits whereas additionally creating them.
Howard returned to Michigan and earned his diploma in 1997.
A number of present and former NBA gamers backed Howard’s hiring at Michigan after information of his interview surfaced earlier this week.
“Speak to me good. Say it’s so!!!? My man deserves this chance. It will solely be proper,” former Warmth star Dwyane Wade wrote on Twitter.
Added LeBron James on social media: “Man WHAT!!!!?? Completely the correct alternative and that i hope it turns into a carried out deal ASAP!! One in every of my favourite individuals I’ve ever met on the age of 16 and been round since then.”
With Howard’s settlement, Michigan is now the one present Division I college to have alums teaching each the soccer (Jim Harbaugh) and males’s basketball packages. He additionally would be the seventh coach in Michigan historical past to educate at his alma mater, and first since Invoice Frieder within the 1980s.
Data from ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and the Related Press was used on this report.