With John Beilein Out At Michigan, Wolverines Turn To Ex-Player Juwan Howard For New Head Coach

After 12 years of animated play-calling, nervous pacing, and priceless mentoring at the Crisler Center, John Beilein has punched his ticket for Cleveland, moving up to the NBA and leaving Michigan without not just a basketball coach, but a stable pillar that the university has relied on for years.

Beilein reached the Final Four with the Wolverines twice during his tenure and also captured two Big Ten championships. While Beilein claimed he never had initial thoughts of departing Michigan, the Cleveland offer stood as one too pretty to ignore. As the coach stated, “You can make a couple choices. You can leave too early or you can leave too late. You never know when to leave. This was an opportunity that has so much potential it was too difficult to pass up. It was the right thing to do.”

While Howard never stood out as a prime candidate early on during Michigan’s coaching search, the university was quick to pull the trigger on him, as failing to have a coach in the midst of recruiting season doesn’t bode well for any basketball program. Howard now brings a new identity to Michigan, as the unknown potential surrounding him, accompanied by his prominent reputation throughout the basketball universe allows Michigan to advertise itself as a now even more intriguing destination for recruits.

Although Howard remained a notable figure throughout the years due to his skills surrounding the game of basketball, his integrity plays into his character as well, as unlike most players at the colligate level, Howard stayed and graduated at Michigan instead of leaving early for the NBA. He thus fulfilled a promise he had made to his grandmother. While Howard’s inexperience clouds the Michigan basketball program’s future, Wolverines fans will have reasons to cheer again shortly if Howard’s success translates into his next stage of life effectively come November. Welcome home, coach. Ann Arbor awaits.