Part of How Howard became Michigan Basketball Coach
There's a nice AP article on how Michigan is rolling, heading into the game with Louisville.
LINK: https://apnews.com/475785c4f3d6475d93ed3fbaa86f60ca
Part of the article focuses on how the Miami Heat coaches and players and even fans have now become Michigan fans. And there's some nice stuff on how Juwan Howard became Michigan's coach:
Howard, 46, interviewed for multiple NBA jobs during his tenure as a Heat assistant. It was in a late-night interview strategy session last spring with Spoelstra — who had spent years professing that Howard was ready to become a head coach — when the Heat coach asked him about returning to the Wolverines.
“We were preparing for like his fourth NBA interview, and it just happened in conversation,” Spoelstra said. “I said, ‘What about the Michigan job? Isn’t that open? Would you have an interest in that?’ And his whole face just lit up.”
Spoelstra advised Howard to start calling college coaches that he knew and trusted, the Patrick Ewing and Chris Mullin types.
“And he did,” Spoelstra said. “He closed up shop and went to work.”
Howard wound up getting his dream job. The Wolverines haven’t lost since. And Howard is dancing again.
Of course there's probably more to the story. But this makes it look like Howard took the initiative, at Spoelstra's suggestion. It's nice to see Michigan get nice things.
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:39 PM ^
Thanks for sharing, great read! I'll fully own, I wasn't very excited by the hire but Howard has 100% proven me wrong.
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:58 PM ^
I never understood why people were not excited.
Former 5* player, returned for his degree, played like 20 years in the NBA, assistant coach for 6, kids are in AAU/ being recruited, positive reds from everyone he has ever met.
Who would you have wanted instead?
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:22 PM ^
I think to me it was a risk aversion thing. It felt like to me, are we going to get Kyle Shanahan or are we going to get Matt Patricia? Lots of risk in hiring a head coach without any head coaching experience. My personal preference at the time, with many uncertainties, would have been a strong college coach with head coaching experience.
But again, I was proven wrong and so far, the gamble was 100% worth it.
December 2nd, 2019 at 2:48 PM ^
I agree that I had some discomfort with the lack of head coaching experience.
But that's it. I loved the nostalgia of having a Fab 5 guy back. And I have been operating under the assumption that he will be a more influential recruiter than Beilein could have been. He has one big win towards that becoming true. And the team is doing well on the court. Very well.
I LOVED Beilein's style of play and things like the low turnovers and fouls, and I will miss it, but all good things must come to an end, I suppose.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:04 PM ^
I wondered about Howard too. But it appears to be a great thing for the players, and for coach Howard. I am really hoping that this sways a couple of potential recruits to come to Michigan. 7'2" Hunter Dickinson would be great. And adding 5 star Joshua Christopher would make the incoming class the best since the Fab 5.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:58 PM ^
There were plenty of reasons to be skeptical about the Howard hire:
- no HC experience
- no college coaching experience
- general ability to teach and scheme compared to Beilein.
He's basically Red Berenson without any HC experience and replacing the best coach in the program's history to date. Now, I'm willing to eat crow on this after realizing he's Red minus HC expereince but seeing his passion for the job and his ability to coach these guys, I'm sold. Recruits should come.
The other thing I'll say is that, among ADs there's been a realization that HC expereince isn't the end all be all predictor of future success. In fact, there's a very minimal corelation. Experience in the sport at the highest level and the connections/relationships to people in the sport that come with, passion for the college game, leadership and moral qualities and institutional support (money and facilities) are the driving factors. I'm convinced this is a great hire at this point and the only thing I'm worried about is his ability to develop/recruit PGs and sharp shooters.
December 2nd, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
Great analysis, I like it! And your point about no head coaching experience and that being perhaps overrated is interesting. I'll have to think on that one.
I guess for me, I just like to have some kind of an idea of what I'm getting. Again, it's worked out well but we've seen MANY rookie coaches not work out, with previous coaching experience and without. Likely it was my own biases that relied too much on previous experience.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
I was very excited when we hired Howard, and he still has 100% proven me wrong. I was expecting a big step back as a first time coach gets his feet wet with a team trying to replace something like 60% of it's scoring.
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
Could it be possible to love a coach more than John Beilein? I don't know yet but I feel as though Juwan is the only guy who could surpass him.
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
There is something special about Juwan Howard
You can already see that these guys have 100% bought into his system and love playing for him.
That doesn't always happen with a new head coach. None of these guys were recruited by Juwan. Its pretty awesome
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
The only thing I need to wait and see is how would a team of his do that's not laden with experienced upperclassmen. It's probably easier to predict how the current group would respond, hopefully it would be the same with a few top 20, one and done types as well. It seems the most successful teams come tournament time have experience mixed with some young NBA prospects.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:20 PM ^
"When you have a coach that you know cares about you genuinely, both on and off the floor," DeJulius told reporters after Thursday's win over North Carolina, "then you’ll run through a brick wall for him, as you can see how we played today.”https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2019/11/29/michigan-basketball-looks-like-an-elite-team/4333516002/ To say that about a new coach who isn't the guy who recruited you is quite a compliment. We gon' be alright.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
It's impossible to draw larger conclusions from such a small sample of games. Plenty of guys start well and then see things fall apart, including a number of guys who inherit good rosters and make great runs with them. We don't really know what his program will look like with "his guys" yet, and we don't know if the team can sustain this run of quality they've started out with.
But the early returns could not be better. It's only a chance at this stage, but there's a chance we've absolutely struck gold. If he can follow through on his promising recruiting, if he really connects well with the players, if he really has the tactical chops that we hope he does...
It's very early. A lot to be played. Hard not to be through the roof optimistic right now.
December 2nd, 2019 at 3:39 PM ^
I understand the point; there’s nothing wrong with needing to see it to believe it. With that said, it doesn’t take a whole day to recognize sunshine.
December 2nd, 2019 at 12:54 PM ^
It's interesting that part of the reason Beilein left was due to frustration with roster turnover and starting over again this year. This definitely doesn't look like a team that is starting over. They also would have likely held onto Jalen Wilson if he stayed.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:02 PM ^
I have no idea if this is true, it's just random feelings I got when I watched JB coach last year, but he looked burnt out from coaching Jordan Poole.
I know that 1 player wouldn't drive a coach to choose to leave the program he basically built, however, JB had an exhausted look on his face and in his body language all year and the stories that trickled out with how he would need guys like Charles Matthews to get Poole to do what JB wanted spoke volumes to me.
I could see a scenario where JB looked at Poole as a microcosm for wanting a new challenge.
Just my 2 cent asspull.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:24 PM ^
This comment from Livers is interesting:
“He’s kind of more of a players’ coach where he understands the game,” Livers said. “You can’t play the game if you’re being controlled the whole time"
Pretty sure he is referring to JB talking about being "controlled". That was basically the constant clash that Poole had with JB as well, though in Poole's case I think he felt he was a better player than he actually is.
There is no question that JB's approach worked, and worked well. His ability to have his teams limit turnovers and fouls was amazing. However, that mentality probably doesn't work for every player. Players like Brooks and Livers last year looked like they were playing scared (especially Brooks), always looking over their shoulder for the hook. Both of them seem to have a new-found confidence under Howard.
Now, will Howard's approach work for the long term? Or is he just inheriting incredibly well-coached guys from JB and turning them loose? We'll find out. The early returns are obviously great.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:30 PM ^
I don't see a controlling coaching style lasting long in the NBA. If Poole was the last straw, he may have an entire team of Poole's in the NBA.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:43 PM ^
I agree--I don't see NBA players wanting to be micro-managed. This Cleveland team is so bad (1-9 in their last 10) that I don't think you can draw any conclusions from it.
I still have a hard time understanding why Beilein would want to subject himself to going 20-62 in the NBA just to say he was an NBA coach. But obviously he really wanted to do it.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:26 PM ^
I don't think Beilein was incapable of seeing what he still had on the team. Simpson will never be a dynamic 3-point shooter, but he's very good, and a senior PG is always an asset. And Beilein has a great track record developing guys like DeJulius and Brooks. Which is to say, he is probably less surprised than anyone that the team is performing well.
Going to the NBA was never going to be a one-year decision. He flirted with the idea of going to the Pistons, and an opportunity to jump is just not going to come around every year. It's the larger environment that's frustrating, not any one player or season. Year after year of finding the right guys, missing on the higher-end recruits, developing the lower-end ones only to see them leave before he can put it all together? Yeah, why not take a shot at the highest level while you can?
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:46 PM ^
I do think Beilein really disliked recruiting and all the BS that goes with it.
Still, if he envisioned this team being ranked #4 at the beginning of December, I can't believe he would have gone. If he thought he had a legitimate title shot (not saying we do yet, but maybe?) I can't believe he wouldn't have gone for it.
But as you said, NBA jobs don't come calling every year.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:24 PM ^
It's such a great story so far. Thank you for sharing. He has this team humming. as the pod indicated the shooting is likely going to come back to earth but having his team on his energy and passion level is a great thing to witness. I think we are still guardedly cautious. I am not expecting a win tomorrow but still think we see a great effort and a great game.
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:25 PM ^
The heat seem to be tied to Michigan in ways. Glen rice was their first big big player. Still held in high regard there. If it wasn’t for him, they would not have gotten Alonzo in 95, Juwan and now Duncan ballin his ass off. Good stuff
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:27 PM ^
If Robinson keeps shooting 42.3% from 3 he will have a long career as a sniper. 42.3% would have placed him 11th in the league last year (for a full season). He's in the right place too--Miami's top 3-point shooter last year shot only 37.7%
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:27 PM ^
Great find - thanks for sharing it!!
Considering the other names involved, I thought Howard was a slam dunk hire. Both his upside and the negative of not having been a college/head coach, offset the considerations of anyone else realistically available. If we had created a pros/minuses column, he would have done as well as anyone else, if not better than most.
All other things being equal, go with the alum that is asking to come back!
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:27 PM ^
Seriously, JB did everything he could have done with Michigan (short of winning the championship and he should have been 1-1 there too). I think he was just ready for a different challenge, one where you have the chance to play at a high level with the same roster more than one or two years in a row.
Seems to have worked out very well.
Onward, Go Blue
December 2nd, 2019 at 1:40 PM ^
Juwan looks like a great hire so far - I hope he maintains this momentum through this season and beyond.
I wanted to make a post about this but didn't think it was worth taking up space on the board but: Ed Cooley. This dude used the Michigan job and his shady connections to finagle his way into a contract extension at Providence - and he's repaid them by going 5-4 with losses to Charleston (Kenpom #147), Long Beach St (KP#278), Northwestern(KP#107) and Penn (KP#109). The guy is a basketball charlatan. So glad we didn't end up with him. The fact that he was even considered is an insult and I hope the athletic dept got its money back from the 'consulting firm' run by his buddies that suggested him.
Thanksgiving just passed and I thank my lucky stars Michigan landed Juwan.
Also - it's nice to see the blue bloods bleeding: State, Duke and Kentucky have all suffered embarassing losses to start the season. UNC went down hard to Michigan and Kansas needed to play its ass off to get past a tough Dayton team. I love it. Could be anybody's year. LET'S GO BLUE!!
December 2nd, 2019 at 2:34 PM ^
I was thinking something very similar with Cooley! Man, did we dodge a bullet on that one. Heck, even Oats isn't doing all that well at Bama thus far.
December 2nd, 2019 at 2:01 PM ^
Spoelstra is such an underrated coach in the NBA that the media doesn’t really talk about Howard always talks about how he’s one of the hardest workers he’s Been around. Howard is a home run hire recruiting and coaching wise. Working with pat riley doesn’t hurt either
December 2nd, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
Spoelstra is such a good X's and O's coach and knows how to manage big egos. He's definitely underrated. The Heat is 14-5 which is good for 3rd in the EC. Juwan learned from Pat Riley and Eric Spoelstra which is huge for his learning curve as an assistant coach
December 2nd, 2019 at 2:40 PM ^
From the image with the article, it looks like Isaiah Livers got new tattoos on the fronts of his thighs. Can anybody read chinese? I can tell the left (his right thigh) character is "dream", but what's the other character?
December 2nd, 2019 at 8:24 PM ^
That character 旅 means "Journey" or "Trip", so both thighs means together as "Dream Journey".