It’s official – former Miami Heat assistant coach and Fab Five member Juwan Howard has returned to the University of Michigan to replace John Beilein as head coach, inking a five-year contract on Wednesday.
http://gty.im/644886722
But considering that Howard doesn’t have any head coaching experience at the collegiate, NBA or any other level of basketball, should Michigan fans hold off on popping the champagne and throwing the confetti?
Read some of what Stadium Basketball Insider Jeff Goodman had to say about the hire, and the cautious nature that Michigan hoops fans should be approaching it with.
Listen, I’ve heard nothing but great things about Howard from those who have played with him, from those who have played for him while he’s been an assistant with the Miami Heat since 2013 and also those who have interviewed him for NBA head gigs.
But call me skeptical.
Yes, I keep being told that Howard is different. Much like another former NBA player hired in college this cycle, Jerry Stackhouse, Howard has some grassroots ties. His kids play AAU ball and Howard is around it quite a bit.
University School Coach Jim Carr, a long-time DI assistant who coaches both of Howard’s sons, Jace and Jett, has no hesitation saying that Howard will be successful at Michigan.
“He’s a grinder,” Carr told me. “He’s on the road more than most college assistants because he’s coaching in the NBA and also watching AAU basketball because he’s traveling with his kids.”
But it’s still not quite the same as grinding it out as a college assistant coach, paying your dues by criss-crossing the country, spending day and night on the phone to get 16-year-olds to play for you while also juggling speaking engagements, calls with your compliance department and also establishing relationships with your players.
I’m not saying Howard can’t do it.
I’m just saying history isn’t on his side.
Read the full article by clicking this link.
