Sports Monday Column about Sanderson's resignation
This is an interesting summary -- based on internal emails that have recently come out -- of the aftermath of the confrontation between Juwan Howard and Jon Sanderson last December. What's amazing to me is that it doesn't appear that any serious effort was made to resolve this incident internally through facilitation, which it sounds like Sanderson was open to. To quote John U Bacon (quoting Don Canham) you never want to make a one day story a two day story, or in this case an over two-month story.
Tom Goss withheld knowledge of a player suspension due to NCAA violation from his boss and ran a budget deficit in the department.
The latter could be forgiven to an extent, but the former was playing with fire.
It's become clear we need to throw some of Stephen Ross' money at an effort to dig up Don Canham's body and try to clone him.
Can't we have one message board thread that doesn't end up with us digging up a corpse?
Again, I just want this to end but I will reiterate than contemporaneous reporting at the time of the incident framed this as a real argument between two guys where neither backed down and wasn't nearly as cut-and-dry as Sanderson's lawyerly emails made it sound like. From the Freep article mentioned above:
"(Jace Howard) was in the training room and was walking out, and got into it with a trainer first.” Goodman said. “Almost to the point of berating the trainer — over the line. The strength coach, Jon Sanderson, hears it and he gets pissed off. He thought Jace was going way over the line.”
According to Goodman, Sanderson said "That’s why the effin’ culture is the way it is around here" in response to Jace's comments, which Juwan overheard and started the heated argument.
Jace went over the line, and Sanderson had every right to tell him to treat the trainers with respect. I understand Jace's anger to a degree; he's been injured basically all year and was likely bothered by the lack of recovery. Still, unacceptable. But then Sanderson calls out the team and the culture publicly, which is definitely not acceptable either. They may be true but you're a member of the staff and you can't be shitting on the team in front of guys. Howard then apparently came barrelling over, yelling at Sanderson about all of his comments, and they had to be separated. So it wasn't a nothingburger of a dispute between two guys, but it also wasn't Sanderson's "I simply stood up for my employee and then Howard approached me with murderous intent in his eyes" characterization either. It's basically 3 adults who all fucked up in various ways, with Jace being the most understandable if still inappropriate.
The program isn't in a good spot, and they need to turn it over. But this article is basically just a rehash of the Athletic article with a heavy dollop of "Howard's a bad coach and this program sucks", which isn't really newsworthy to me.
I hope the new coach brings him back....really.... Before someone else signs him.
Sanderson went to Ohio State, who is cleaning house.. have to imagine we've fumbled him into their arms.
Thinking the same thing on the timing there. Wonder if his son follows him to torch Michigan in the years ahead? That would be a nice reminder every time he hits a bucket... of this current mess.
Well-written story, kudos to Paul Nasr
If true (and no reason to think it isn't), Juwan should have been fired given the zero tolerance policy he supposedly is working under.
Not only do we lose a great S&C coach, Sanderson's son is also a 5^ basketball player. Doubtful we will see him suited up as a Wolverine.
I'd assume that many here coached their children's teams. I coached both of my children's teams until they reached a level of ability where they benefited from more experienced / professional coaches and staff.
A story from years ago comes to mind. It was with Bo and his first season at Michigan. Dan Dierdorf was on that team and one of, if not the, most talented players on the roster. Bo had a "one on one" with Dan and told him - "Dan, you're very talented and have a lot of potential - you're the best player on the roster. I want to let you know that I'm going to be very tough on you - tougher than I will be on any other player on the roster. The reason is - if the other players see how tough I am on you - and they realize you're a stronger player than they are - they'll realize they have to step up their efforts. I want you to hear this directly from me. You have a lot of potential and I want you to realize it. Do you have any questions?"
IMO, if you're coaching your child / children - you need them to understand that they're not getting "any favors" or that you're "taking it easier on them" than other members of the team.
I wasn't in the room where these discussions / altercations occurred - but, showing "tough love" can be very beneficial for youngsters as they develop their sense of accountability and responsibility.
"Make Your Bed" was a book written by Admiral William McRaven - who became the Chancellor at the University of Texas after he ended his military career. It's ten fantastic lessons for young adults and illustrates applicable lessons in adversity and handling it.
Great post and book recommendation.
When this whole story broke, it reminded me of a situation from work some years ago where people complained about a leader who seemed part of the "Golden Child" class, and therefore untouchable. The leader was passive-aggressive and damaging to both team morale and performance.
A complaint was filed through the ethics line. I told people that it would go nowhere because of this person's glowing reputation amongst senior leaders. While this leader didn't have the strikes against them that Juwan already has, it still should have brought SOME sort of corrective behavior (e.g., formal acknowledgment from the leader that they needed to do better, even if they had no other discipline taken against them). Of course, nothing happened (unsubstantiated, that word again) and the leader took spite against the team and made life worse.
I suspect things had been brewing between Juwan and Jon for some time. Jon probably felt he would be one of the fall guys and decided to give himself a chance by formally complaining. Hopefully, he got some kind of severance package.
While some here throw some shade on JUB, I do believe he is credible (enough) on this subject as well as the rumor that Warde is getting an extension. As for the Mel ordeal, it's too far in the past for Warde to be held accountable anymore, in the world of "corporate" America (universities are as corporate as corporations but not held accountable to any kind of shareholders) that ship has sailed.
The only answer, sadly, is for more teams to pile into Chrysler and take over the arena next year. Mixed in with games vs. Oregon where less than 5,000 show up. Imagine if Santa goes to a weeknight game and a sparse crowd is there. That's going to give him the ammo to go to Warde and force a change.
Warde only has one option here and it’s to terminate his basketball coach for cause two days after the Big 10 Tournament concludes.
if Warde does not follow through in this manner, then the President and Board will remove them both.
Never been fond of Gene Smith but the man knows when to terminate coach.