I owe Warde Manuel an apology. From the outside looking in, it looked like Warde was taking his sweet time to find a new head coach. That he wasn't contacting the top candidates and was looking to hire his friends.
None of that was true, he did contact (through the search firm) the top coaches and ended up with the right choice Juwan Howard. My only feedback is, this probably could have been done this time last week. After the UCLA opening, it was pretty clear which coaches where willing to move and which ones weren't. He was also able to get a new contract and a raise for his friend (even though he gave the Michigan fan base a minor heart attack for about 24 hours).
Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. There is never a perfect candidate when you have a surprise opening in May. Coach B was exactly what this program needed, he didn't cheat and built a basketball power when the signature football program was struggling. This opening left a huge hole to fill and I personally felt the program was at a cross roads. I don't feel like that today.
Today, I couldn't be happier at the choice to bring Juwan Howard home to coach the Wolverines. This guy has paid his dues in the NBA and has learned from the best. He of course is a Michigan Grad but he is also qualified for this position and I believe will do a great job on and off the court.
Jalen is all over TV saying the Fab 5 is united again and will do nothing but support the program and each other. That is great as the Fab 5 was maybe the most important time of the program, but to me that is secondary. Juwan's job will be to recruit, develop, and win basketball games. That is a tough job now, with everyone looking to get to the NBA sooner then maybe they should be.
I'm excited about this hire and think it was 100% the right choice.
Juwan's top priority now is:
- Keep or hire a new staff. Michigan fans would love to keep Luke and Saddi. But is that in the cards?
- Try to save Jalen Wilson (who was named after Jalen Rose) and get him to re-commit/re-sign with the Wolverines.
- Add a graduate transfer: I believe Cumberland the shooting guard from Oakland still hasn't committed anywhere
- Add any new late recruits to next years class - Franz Wagner?
12 comments:
Don't love it, don't necessarily hate it either, but I would of gave the job to Luke or Saddi and see where that took 'em. I look at it this way if UoM hired a new head basketball coach, w/o any college experience as a coach, even an assistant, has never recruited, and didn't have any previous head coaching experience but had zero connection to UoM how many would of loved that hire then. I just think him being a member of the Fab Five is glossing over some of his short comings.
Chowman, besides never being a head coach and never recruited. What other short coming do you see?
EzmoB those are two big ??? Because he hasn't been a HC we don't know what kind of offense or defense he'll run. Ideally I'd love Luke Y. to stay on staff and even Saddi Washington too, but not sure after both reportedly interviewed for the job, whether they want to be 2nd fiddles to Howard. I've read Luke is being pursued by Shaka Smart and UoT. Being a HC is a grind at a big school like UoM. You got the fund raising, recruiting, dealing with 18 yo kids who are home sick and face it they're 18 yo kids and they're going to do stuff 18 yos do when they away from home probably for the 1st extended time. Howard's used to dealing with men. Look I hope it works, I hope he can build on the program that JB built. It just that history is not really on his side!
I believe that Michigan and Howard can make this work, they have to make this work. Michigan is an outstanding program but not everyone is willing to give up a kidney to coach here simply because WE love it.
I'd also like for Luke Yaklich to stay on as an assistant, I think it would be good for both of them. I'd also like to see Jalen Wilson come back and play for Michigan. But you know what? If they don't it won't be the end of the world either. Why? Because Luke Yaklich and Jalen Wilson were Coach Beilein's people and if they move on then Coach Howard will have to get his own people...nuff said! IMHO!!!
Chowman Howard coached Miami G league team, which in most part is made up of college players trying to make it to the NBA. Every younger player that came in contact with Howard, has expressed how he mentored them. I have full confidence that he can work with young kids and can recruit at a high level. What can shaka smart offer Luke that Michigan can't? Shaka fizzled out at UoT. Luke will benifit more by staying and working with the kids he had been working with.
Listen who else were we going to get? Cooley? Donavan turned us down and said go with Juwan, Stevens did the same, and Jay Wright declined. Those 3 are the ones the fan base wanted. What other choice did we have left? L Jordan? He buyout was something Michigan was not going to go for. Even though many people behind the scene wanted him. Juwan was the best choice and a safe bet. I'm very sure Juwan will put his heart and soul into Michigan and will keep the program clean. He is also known as a talent developer which coach JB was great at. Juwan will be able to recruit top prospects and develop them. I love this hire and go blue!
Voice Luke was a defensive specialist. Juwan at Miami coaches the defense side. I'm sure he will keep the defense great. Miami defense was one of the top defenses last few years.
At the end of the day Juwan takes coaching seriously. He has been working at this very hard for years. He wants to be a HC and he will put everything he has into the basketball program.
Penny worked at it, Jerry Stackhouse worked at it, and Juwan Howard had worked at it. These guys will be successful!
EzmoB G league really? get out of here with that. nobody cares about G league. most of those guys will NEVER play in the NBA. there next stop is over seas or Walmart.
ever gone after a job that was given to a co-worker. how did you feel about that? Was it easy to work with that person after that? human nature usually says no. luke may just want a fresh start somewhere else. and Texas has DEEP pockets, might be willing to give him a big raise. plus Smart is on thin ice in TX, maybe Luke sees it as if he comes in does a great job upping there D, they give him a shot. I really hope he stays!
As far as who were we going to get, the timing of JB leaving sucked, but I was totally fine with giving Luke Y. a shot. And if not, there had to be some mid-major coach that was looking for a step up. I think the recruiting firm that Manuel hired stole money from UoM. 2 days after JB took the CLE job I was reading articles in the press that were naming Howard, Jordan, Yaklish, Washington as potential replacements. Donovan, Stevens, Beard were pipe dreams. Names thrown out there by crazed fans and jounalists looking for click bait. As far as Penny, he hasn't done anything but recruit a great class. A class made up of mostly players HE coached in AAU. Memphis has faced NCAA sanctions in the past when Calipari was there, and don't be surprised if they come under scrutiny again. One thing Memphis has proved is they're willing to win at ALL cost. And Stackhouse only time will tell, but he's at Vandy, what has Vandy ever done on the national stage in basketball. Other than baseball what sport has Vandy been a national power?
You really need to get over this Fab Five nostalgic love and look at things with a unjaundiced eye. Juwan Howard's resume is weak to be hired for a job at the level of the one at UoM. This was a safe hire for Warde Manuel as many UoM alums and fans will accept him for being part of the Fab Five, but in reality its a very risky hire for the University and Warde Manuel. This whole "Michigan Man" mantra is getting old, it just limits the pool of qualified candidates and is short sighted in the long run. Again, I wish Juwan the best, and hope he can continue what John Beilein has built, but as I've stated before history is not in his favor.
I agree chow, history is not on his side & he is a risky hire, but everyone available falls into that same category luke he's an unknown as well. Shaka hes known...& not good.So why not choose the unknown who will ignite the fan base, at least for a bit. We can all have a warm fuzzy feeling for the fab 5 reunion tour. I might even buy a tee shirt.
I agree with your assessment of the "Michigan man" mantra its tired old & only serves to limit possibilities.
Goose: I guess we KNOW Luke Yaklich can coach up an amazing D. We know nothing really about Howard. People want to use the G league thing fine, I'm not impressed. I've said I don't Hate the hire, just not doing back flips. I'm taking a wait and see approach, but not holding my breath. I just hate to see this program back track after Beilein put it back on the map!
Honestly I'm not crazy about the "Michigan man" stuff either. I was too young to know about the fab 5 stuff. After hearing about it and watching it. I actually became a fan of Howard. Watching him in the NBA I stayed a fan of his. In my humble opinion I think he is going to do well. He has the drive and I think he wants to take the program from where it is and take a step further. Which I believe he can. With the support he has from current and former NBA players, it is going to pay dividends on the recruiting trail. I really hope coach Luke stays on the staff and coach Washington. Go blue!!
Chow mein stop yapping doesn't make no sense
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