Michigan Basketball: Reports say Juwan Howard is next head coach

There are now multiple reports saying that Juwan Howard is going to be the next head coach of the Michigan basketball program.

As Michigan basketball fans wait for the announcement that Juwan Howard will be the next head coach, more reports are coming in that it’s a done deal and it’s now almost a certainty that the job is going to the former member of the Fab Five.

The search was rumored to have included Texas head coach Shaka Smart, Providence head coach Ed Cooley, Texas Tech’s Chris Beard, Butler’s LaVall Ball, NBA coaches Billy Donovan and Brad Stevens, as well as Michigan basketball assistants Luke Yaklich and Saddi Washington.

Eventually, the list was shortened as Donovan and Stevens turned down the gig along with Beard. Ed Cooley was one of the last to announce he was no longer interested which he did via the Providence men’s basketball official Twitter page.

Shaka Smart and LaVall Jordan never interviewed as their buyouts would likely have been too much for Michigan to bare.

The list then came down to Yaklich, Washington, and Howard. Howard was reported as the favorite and the choice was an obvious slam dunk for Warde Manuel.

Now it seems the only thing we are waiting for is the official statement, which hasn’t come but will soon according to Chris Balas of The Wolverine ($).

Balas who covers the Wolverines for Rivals, says that Howard will be the next Michigan basketball coach and cited knowledge of other candidates being informed they would not be getting the job.

Balas is the first Michigan reporter to say that it is a done deal, however, another website, Five Reasons Sports, which covers Miami teams, including the Heat, reported the news early Tuesday afternoon and it was picked up by the Bleacher Report.

Overall the news is as exciting as they come and it arrives after the call for Manuel to hire Juwan were shouted from many prominent alumni including some of Howard’s former Fab Five teammates.

Chris Webber said all the Wolverines needed was Juwan to put together some wins over in-state rival Michigan State.

Jalen Rose also publicly endorsed Howard.

"Now that there’s a vacant job in Ann Arbor, let’s do a blank canvas as to who should be the No. 1 candidate. To me, that should be a no brainer.There’s a guy named Juwan Howard that’s from Chicago. He’s going to be able to help recruit that market. All-American in high school, came to the University of Michigan and was a member of the Fab Five. He was the first person to sign their Letter of Intent. In theory, he also helped recruit each one of us. He was always the adult in the room amongst us."

Jimmy King mentioned Howard’s successes as a player and a coach which makes him “one of the best candidates the university can have.”

Juwan will take over for legendary Michigan basketball coach John Beilein who was the winningest head coach in program history.

There is no news as to who will be coach Howard’s assistants. It’s not sure when an official announcement is expected, although there was some speculation it would take place Wednesday.

It’s also important to note that other key Michigan basketball reporters such as Nick Baumgardner of the Detroit Free Press and Sam Webb of the Michigan Insider have not confirmed the news. There also has been nothing official from the University.

https://twitter.com/sbell021/status/1130916984655360001

Prior to Michigan, Juwan was employed as an assistant coach by the Miami Heat since 2013 where he was under the tutelage of Miami head coach Eric Spoelstra. Prior to his coaching career, Howard ended his playing career winning two championships alongside Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh.

In other news, the loss of top recruit Jalen Wilson will have an impact on this team next season but his recruiting remains open and he could be wooed back to the team by the new Fab Five HC. Also, the highly sought after Franz Wagner, younger brother of Moritz Wagner, could be another potential addition to the 2019-20 team.