John Beilelin Extended Through 2015-16
[press release]
U-M's
Beilein signs contract extension
ANN ARBOR, Mich.---University of Michigan Men's basketball head coach John Beilein has agreed to a contract extension to lead the Wolverines through the 2015-16 season, athletic director Bill Martin announced today.
"John Beilein has been a wonderful addition to our staff here at Michigan. What he has done on and off the court with our men's basketball team has been tremendous, and he has made it clear he wants to coach at Michigan until he retires," said Martin, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "This contract extension is a win-win situation for the men's basketball program at Michigan and for Coach Beilein."
Beilein's total compensation under the new contract will be $1.7 million in 2010-11, $1.8 million in 2012-13 and $1.9 million by the 2013-14 season.
Currently in his third season at the helm of the Wolverine program, Beilein has continued to be a proven winner throughout his career. Beilein has won 588 career games, placing him in the top 20 in victories among active Division I head coaches. In 32 years behind the bench, Beilein has compiled 27 winning seasons including 15 20-win campaigns.
In his second season with U-M, Beilein guided the Wolverines to a 21-14 record and steered the Wolverines back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 11 seasons, advancing to the second round following a first round win over Clemson. Michigan's 21 victories during the 2008-09 campaign tied a school record for the largest single-season turnaround in program history at 11 games.
Beilein is the only active coach in the collegiate ranks to record a 20-win season at four different levels---junior college, NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I. In addition, he is one of seven coaches to take four different schools to the NCAA Tournament---Canisius (1996), Richmond (1998), West Virginia (2005, 2006) and Michigan (2009). However, with Beilein's 1988 Division II NCAA Tournament appearance with LeMoyne, he has taken five different teams to the NCAA postseason.
During his coaching career, Beilein has only served as a head coach, with stints at West Virginia (2002-07), Richmond (1997-2002), Canisius (1992-97), LeMoyne (1983-92), Nazareth College (1982-83) and Erie Community College (1978-82).
Beilein played college basketball at Wheeling College (now Wheeling Jesuit University) from 1971-75 and served as team captain his junior season. He received a bachelor's degree from Wheeling in 1975, majoring in history, and earned a master's degree in education from Niagara in 1981.
[/press release]
Get paid, my man. This probably affects just about nothing in the grand scheme of things, as I'm sure Beilein, barring an (even more) epic collapse of the team over a couple years or NCAA sanctions, was going to stay at Michigan until retirement anyway. He'll be 63 when this contract extension is up.
January 11th, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
I haven't followed BBall since the fab five left UM, well actually after the fabfive II left (Baston, Taylor and the gang) so I am way out of the loop here.
I know that when Beilein was at WVU he enjoyed a lot of success and looked like a great hire for UM. I look now and see that since he has gone, WVU has maintained their status among the nations best while UM has had a couple mediocre seasons and one good one.
My question to those who know (I am not one of those when it comes to BBall) is if Beilein really shows that much promise?
I guess I am wondering if his record at WVU was a product of being at a successful program or if he made the program successful?
They still enjoy success there, but that me be due to him creating a program with sustainable longevity for all I know (and nothing to do with the school being successful before him). I am just wondering because I have no idea myself. Thanks!
January 11th, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^
Without getting into a huge thing, Beilein has MADE the program successful everywhere he's been. Canisius was 8-22 before he got there; in his five years they went to one NCAA tournament and 2 NITs. He went 100-52 at Richmond, with one NCAA tournament (upset 3 seed S.Carolina) and went to two NITs. He took over a mediocre WVU program and after a couple years getting his guys in, made two deep tournament runs and won an NIT. He is widely considered one of the few best coaches in basketball and has won multiple COY awards. At Michigan, as you know, he took over a truly mediocre program (I love them, but you know, the failures) and took them to the 2nd round with walk-ons playing a huge role (and we desperately miss those guys this year).
WVU has stayed on top because Huggins, though dirty, is an excellent coach with a long, long history of success. Michigan has been disappointing this season without a doubt, but Beilein is the guy you want.
January 11th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
I appreciate the feedback. As I said, I haven't followed college basketball all that closely this decade and was simply wondering about our current coach.
I am glad to hear about his past victories and hope he continues the success with the basketball team at UM.
Again, thanks for the insight.
January 11th, 2010 at 1:42 PM ^
"I am glad to hear about his past victories and hope he continues the success with the basketball team at UM."
Me too. I really think, with all his guys in, this will be a really dangerous team and fun one to watch. They sure were last year. You'd think with talent like Harris and Sims he could do more, but I think there's just a leadership void this year and our best players are too inconsistent (Sims at both ends, Novak and Douglass on offense, Gibson generally, etc.). I really look forward to watching the developed games of Vogrich, Smotrycz, Novak, Douglass and Morris in a couple years.
January 11th, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^
Agreed. I think the lack of leadership is a huge problem this year. Dave Merritt and CJ Lee may not have been the most talented players on the court, but they were leaders. When things were going poorly, last year's squad seemed to find a way to turn things around (see Savannah St, for example). This team doesn't seem to have the same ability to overcome adversity. A lot of that has to do with a lack of on-court leadership...
January 11th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
I hate to rain on the "extension parade," but I just fundamentally do not like this at all. I know that Beilein is well liked and that he has truly garnered the respect and admiration of the coaching world. However, respect and admiration do not translate to wins.
To me, Beilein has not demonstrated a career of excellence. Prior to UM, he coached at the D1 level for 15 years, making the tournament only four times. His coaching philosophy is wholly reliant on finesse play and the 3-point shot. He's not regarded as a "grinder," nor does he have a high track record of talent development (I didn't invest a ton of research in this stat, but I could only find 2 players he coached that went pro). Moreover, not to rag on his COY awards, but only one came while he was coaching in the D1.
I didn't understand his hiring when he came to UM and am just stunned by this contract extension. What has he done to get a contract extension??? Barely make it to the tourney and beat Clemson? Or, the absolute collapse of lofty preseason expectations? I am not going to outright blame his coaching for UM's TERRIBLE season so far, but he has played a significant role in the team's lack of improvement from game-to-game.
Is UM just hoping for mediocrity in basketball, or are we trying to fill a competitive team? I just don't get it and apologize in advance if I annoyed an Beilein advocates. I'd love to grab a coffee with the guy...maybe even hear him tell a joke or two. But, I do not want him coaching UM basketball.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:48 AM ^
Just a PS: in another thread (uh, I totally wasn't going through his old posts and negbanging him), Buddha wrote:
"That being said, I like RR. I think he's a total stud and will deliver UM to the prominence we haven't really had - or earned - the last 6 years or so. He's a genius of the game and once he gets his players, he'll start destroying the Big 10. It's scary how good UM could be in 3 years if we stay the course. It's scary how bad UM could be if we fire RR right now."
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/ot-harbaugh-qa
I agree. However: Rich Rod has gone 3-9 and 5-7. The transition has been a complete disaster by any reasonable measurement (blame whoever/whatever you want - I'm persuaded by the defensive attrition theory).
On the other side of things, Beilein took guys Amaker couldn't do anything with to the second round of the NCAA tournament. His past success is, if anything, more consistent than Rich Rod's (if not more impressive, though there's an argument to be made). But he has no "history of excellence" and Rich Rod does? No extension for him, but keep Rich Rod until 2013? You not only know nothing about basketball, but your internal logic is a complete disaster.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:52 AM ^
I am, clearly, a Beilein homer. But I realize that there are legitimate reasons not to LOVE this extension, some of which have been suggested in this thread. You have failed to touch on any of them.
The reason Beilein's players have not gone to the NBA is because he coached at CANISIUS and RICHMOND. Put Wooden, Knight, Coach K, Roy Williams, whoever at those schools, and you're never, ever going to get NBA talent. One guy every 10 years, if you're lucky. I can't believe I have to write this. Same to "only" making the tournament four times. He was at CANISIUS and RICHMOND (and did more in the tourney with WVU than he had any right to with their talent). I mean, this is just so basic. Putting schools from outside the major conferences into the NIT is a HUGE accomplishment. Bad coaches don't do that, ever.
He's won 2/3 of his games at every stop until now and has pushed every single program to heights it had not recently seen (including, you know, MICHIGAN). I'm laughing at "barely make it to the tournament and beat Clemson." You're right, he only did something the last two guys couldn't do with far more time and their own recruits - he sucks!
It is within the realm of possibility that Beilein is part of the problem this year. Yet somehow, I am certain that you have no idea what role he has played "in the team's lack of improvement from game-to-game" or anything else.
January 12th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
Have you ever coached a 14-seed to a win in the NCAA Tournament?
Have you taken teams deep into the second weeekend of the NCAA Tournament?
Have you coached four different teams into the NCAA Tournament?
Have you ever inherited a last place team and turn it into a conference regular season champ within a year?
Do you have over 500 career wins? 20-win seasons at 4 different D1 schools?
Did you just lead a woebegone program to its first NCAA berth and win in over a decade?
I'll take Beilein's 'career of excellence' any day of the week.
January 11th, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^
west virginia has "maintained their status" simply and only because of bob huggins, who is a) a helluva coach and b) right up there with calipari on the list of "how much integrity are you willing to sacrifice" scale. the guy would recruit jeffrey dahmer if he could go to his left. thanks, but no thanks...
you're right about beilein's previous stops, too. he's not a "maintainer," he's a BUILDER.
January 11th, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
While I'm obviously very disappointed in yesterday's collapse at home to NW and with this season in general I actually take a lot of solace in the fact that JB is running a clean program. I also have confidence that he will have us as a top 25 perennially with another class or two.
go blue.
January 11th, 2010 at 3:56 PM ^
..if you're not UNC/Duke/Kansas and sadly MSU, can you seriously win consistently in college basketball without having to deal with either or both of the slimy coaches (Kelvin Sampson, Calipari, etc.) or slimy one and done players and the festering horde of AAU coaches, pseudo agents and various hangers on that seem to have overrun college basketball. I too take solace that JB runs the program right and the players are upright people. I just wonder if he can win?
January 11th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
Belein is a great coach. Even though they lost to Northwestern, it had to do more with turnovers than coaching. Michigan would've won if they had figured out that extended 1-3-1 trap, but hopefully they'll learn from it and get better. Carmodie is a good coach to and Northwestern and Michigan are the best at protecting the ball in the conference. Neither did well yesterday but Michigan (cough, Stu Douglass, cough) was especially atrocious.
January 11th, 2010 at 12:07 PM ^
for contract extensions? Has he earned one since being at M? His first contract was based on his past resume and recent work at WVU. He received a lucrative contract and I was glad we hired him. However, he has done nothing since then to earn an extension. For starters, making it to the NCAA tournament once in three years (this year already over) is hardly deserving of a contract extension. I also see no improvement in recruiting.
As an additional consideration, shouldn't a decision like this be left to our new AD, since he will be with Beiliein for most of the extension?
It does not make sense to me.
January 11th, 2010 at 1:01 PM ^
Taking a completely moribund program to the tourney in 2 years (with multiple walk-ons playing) is a significant accomplishment. You can argue whether or not Beilien's performance to date merits a contract extension, but minimizing what's actually happened by saying that he's "done nothing" is silly.
January 11th, 2010 at 3:51 PM ^
merit giving him an extension? Yes bringing a team to the NCAA in two years is great but they should have been on par or better this year and they're going backwards. Further, he has yet to really show his recruiting prowess as the two leading scorers were not his recruits and the rest of the players can't seem to find the basket consistently. I must admit I would have liked to see what he could do next year before any extension was given out. That would be four years and one full year where it will be his recruits, many of whom will have three years of seasoning. JB is a class act off the court and on but we all know college sports is about results and if this year continues as it has so far, that will make two of three years where we didn't get those results. I want it to work out, but why put the school on the hook for a longer contract if it doesn't need to. He still had three years on the original contract. Another two would have been more than sufficient to evaluate what results JB can bring.
January 12th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
Why is everyone underestimating the on-floor leadership lost from last year to this year. You forget that CJ Lee was a business major... leadership is everything he's trained for. Losing him was a huge impact to intangibles. Very few schools have a kid like him, and the average team would need two guys to have anywhere near the same leadership impact - the issue is that nobody has been able to fill his shoes in the same way. Kids like him don't stumble in every day.
January 11th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
Recruiting has really never been the problem, in my opinion. It was about player development and being able to get over the hump. When Amaker couldn't get to the tournament with Horton, Abram, D Harris, C Sims, Brown, Hunter, and Petway, you knew he wasn't the answer. Add to that the fact that Dion Harris and Daniel Horton both had arguably their best seasons as freshman, and it was pretty clear. Amaker got talented guys on campus (those listed above plus M Harris, D Sims, and theoretically A Legion), he just couldn't pull it off on the floor.
There has been the expected turnover with Beilein taking over and the system switch over, but he still got them somewhere Amaker couldn't in two years. Manny and DeShawn have both developed nicely and I think Stu will end up being the shining example of turning a straight chucker into a solid all around player.
And as for recruiting, Beilein's classes have continued to improve. Douglass, Novack to Morris, Vogrich, Morgan, McLimans, to Smotryc, Hardaway, (hopefully) Ziegler, (hopefully) Horford, to Brundige, (hopefully) Williams.
So basically, I think everything is there to say this will work out, so I think it makes sense.
January 11th, 2010 at 3:09 PM ^
It makes a good statement about what Michigan thinks is important. We are struggling a little this year - missing Merritt and Lee more than anyone anticipated - but we got to the NCAA last year and won a game. Beilein is a great coach with high integrity - he is what we want. I am glad they extended him.
We will get better as some of the younger players grow into their roles. This really is still a transition.
January 11th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
One other factor that has hurt has been the inconsistent play of LLP, Douglass. There is no reliable third scoring threat on this team.
January 11th, 2010 at 4:56 PM ^
is the most disappointing year for Michigan basketball since I've been following the team. (Second to 1989-90, when Michigan returned all but Rice and was sort of meh, flaming out to LMU in the tournament.)
Last year was exciting, to see Blue back in the NCAA tournament. But that should be the expectation. They were so close at least twice under Amaker, it's not like JB was hired to a perennial loser.
Although the team lacks a front court presence, there is enough talent for them to have won at least two or three more games this year.
All this is to say that I cannot get excited that JB was re-signed under the terms he was given. I suppose that with a coach of his stature, a one year extension would have been an insult. I can understand the decision.
I wish JB the best, and will still follow with just as much interest, but right now I can't see this season as anything other than a major disappointment, and at least part of that is on JB. (Other factors that have hurt: neither Manny or Sims are floor leaders; in hindsight, outrageous preseason hype; the three point line being moved back has hurt us; defensive rebounding has been a disaster against bigger teams.)
January 12th, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
Only a team that was a defending national champion and that got bounced early by one of the most emotionally charged teams ever in tourney history (marymount) is more disappointing than this year's team?
Wow.
I would think that any team with Taylor-Traylor-Bullock crew, that were always ranked in the preseason top 15, but had bad OOC losses every season, never came close to competing for the Big 10 regular season title, only won a single tournament game, even missed the tournament one year, who comported themselves so poorly on and off the court that they were a regular source of unviersity shame and whose ultimate behavior opened the door for sanctions and banishment from relevancy would be higher than them all on the disappointment list.
Those teams were so poorly coached and poorly disciplned. How do they not rate higher on your personal disappointment list?
January 11th, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^
shows the man can coach. Even the first season you could see improvement from the beginning to the ending and a team that refused to pack it in. Last year they made significant strides. Yes, they've taken a step back this year and I don't really know why, but I'll bet JB does and is working to fix it. I hate being in the "just wait until next year" mode and it's looking more and more like the NIT this year, but we'll get back there again soon. When he got here, the cupboard wasn't just bare, it was missing. Give him time to build the program. We'll contend again.
January 12th, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^
I think that some of the redshirts they have right now will be a big help next year and that the future of the program, like football, looks bright.
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