Roughly a week after losing the greatest coach the men’s basketball program had ever seen, Michigan brought back one of its own in an effort…
Roughly a week after losing the greatest coach the men’s basketball program had ever seen, Michigan brought back one of its own in an effort to fill the void.
Juwan Howard, a former Michigan All-American forward and member of the famed Fab Five recruiting class, agreed in principle to become the program’s new head coach Wednesday, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
The deal, according to the person, is a five-year contract. The financial terms have not been made available at this time. Howard was officially offered the job by Michigan on Wednesday after meeting with athletic director Warde Manuel on Tuesday.
Howard, 46, has been hired to replace John Beilein —the program’s all-time winningest coach — who ended his 12-year run at the school last Monday to become the new head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Howard returns to Michigan after departing in 1994 to embark on a 19-year NBA career. He was a key member of Michigan’s famed Fab Five recruiting class. The Chicago native and former All-American was the first of the group to commit, and was a key cog in what eventually resulted in back-to-back NCAA title game appearances in 1992 and 1993.
Those Final Four banners have since been removed from Crisler Center due to sanctions resulting from the Ed Martin recruiting scandal that tainted that era. Howard was not part of the group of players who were ultimately disassociated from the university for a 10-year period as a result of the scandal.
TEAMMATE SUPPORT: Chris Webber backs Juwan Howard for Michigan job
MAJOR LOSS: John Beilein’s NBA move hurts college basketball
OTHER CANDIDATES: Five college coaches who should consider NBA move
Howard ranks No.
