Michigan Basketball: A few viable candidates to replace John Beilein
With John Beilein leaving for the NBA, the Michigan basketball program will search for a new leader. Thanks to the work of Beilein, interest will be high.
John Beilein is off the Cleveland. Thank you, coach, for all that you did to put Michigan basketball back on the national map. Now, what comes next?
Former players rarely return and have success. In my opinion, it is a road Michigan basketball should not go down. Who then could step in and lead the Wolverines into the future?
Why not begin with a coach who is the hottest name out there and could be interested in coaching for a big program like Michigan?
His Tech team beat Michigan in the Sweet 16 and he took his team to the National Championship Game. While he did sign a new six-year contract if a school like Michigan called he could listen.
LaVall Jordan of Butler University could be another candidate. He is from the Beilein coaching tree. He was a Michigan assistant from 2010-16. There were some in the Michigan inner circle who thought this would happen. It could. But Jordan had Butler playing well and may want to see that job through after just two seasons with one NCAA tournament appearance.
I am not sure if Michigan would give the job to an assistant coach like Luke Yaklich or Saddi Washington. Not for a first time coaching job. It would be too big for them. It is better to work your way up the ladder and then enjoy success at a large school.
Thanks to everyone at the Univ of Michigan for their incredible support these last 12 years. Our fans , alums , leaders, players and students are AMAZING It has been a heck of a ride and I hope you enjoyed our teams and staff as much as I did !Go Blue Forever ! #GoBlue
— John Beilein (@JohnBeilein) May 13, 2019
For the Michigan fans that would like to see a former player get a shot. The only one I think would generate any consideration at all would be Juwan Howard.
Juwan Howard has been an NBA assistant coach with the Heart since 2013 and is well respected in NBA circles. Having never coached in college would make Howard a bit of a risky choice. Think of it as high risk, high reward.
If I were Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, one of the first calls I would make is to Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats. His team has won two of the last four National Championships. Not to mention Wright is a great recruiter. He did turn down UCLA so prying him away would be difficult.
The Michigan athletic department will need to sit down with players and coaches and plan a course of action. Michigan sells itself.
John Beilein has made the basketball program attractive to any big name coach out there. This should not be rushed. Michigan must bring in the right guy to continue what Beilein started.