Michigan Basketball: Juwan Howard won’t be given patience

Juwan Howard was introduced as the Michigan basketball coach Thursday and while AD Warde Manuel preached patience, Howard won’t get that at UM.

It was hard not to feel proud as a Michigan basketball fan Thursday as former Wolverine Juwan Howard was officially introduced as UM’s head coach.

While Howard might not have been Michigan’s first choice, he felt like the right one all along as the former member of the Fab Five takes over for John Beilein, the man widely considered to be the best basketball coach in Wolverines history.

There were a lot of great moments Thursday. We got to see Howard with his family and we also saw how much this job truly means to him.

That was special and as a Michigan basketball fan, it was important. I want to know that this is where Howard wants to be and not just for a few years. And when Howard said he was all in, holding back tears which started flowing the second he walked on stage, it was easy to buy in.

That being said, there is a big difference between a guy getting his dream job and being able to do it. With that in mind, Manuel preached patience Thursday, saying this about Howard’s lack of experience: 

"“He doesn’t have the experience, but let me let you check – I’m gonna give credit to Brendan – in the last two years, 110 schools have changed basketball coaches. A lot of those people who changed had great deals of experience. Let him evolve, let him develop into a head coach of his own! That’s what I’m gonna do. Support him, answer questions, put people around him and let him evolve.”"

That was the final paragraph of a long quote by Manuel on why he hired Howard. Essentially, he said he looked more at the man and his big-picture philosophy than just the Xs and Os.

Manuel is right to assume Howard knows all about scheme and after 19 seasons in the NBA as a player and six more as a top assistant coach, he knows the game well. That much is clear.

What isn’t clear is whether Howard can succeed as a head coach, especially at a top program like Michigan basketball. I don’t doubt his ability, we just don’t know because we haven’t seen it.

For many reasons, I expect Howard to excel. With his background in the NBA and with the Fab Five, along with his connections, he will do well in recruiting. I also think players will want to play for him. By all accounts from those who have played with him and under him, he’s a great leader and a tremendous motivator.

Then again, the same words are probably uttered about every single Division I hire in football and basketball or any other sport. The truth is we have no idea how Juwan will do and that’s just fine. But if Manuel expects patience from the fans or the media, he has another thing coming.

Michigan fans can talk about patience all they want, but if the Wolverines don’t make the NCAA tournament next season, all that patience will be right out the window along with the honeymoon.

People love Juwan Howard and they will give him the benefit of the doubt for a while. Yet, we all need to remember this is Michigan, a school with incredible expectations and a fanbase starved for championship success.

There are a lot of great things about being the head coach of Michigan basketball, but patience from the fans or media isn’t going to be one of them.