The Juwan Howard era is over at Michigan, as the former Fab Fiver flamed out in Year 5 on and off the court. Now the question is, what’s next for the Wolverines?
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How did Juwan Howard and Michigan basketball fall so far?
Job evaluation
Very good, but maybe not as amazing as you’d think?
In 107 seasons of playing men’s basketball, Michigan has reached eight Final Fours and won one national championship. Granted: reaching back to a time before an NCAA Tournament even existed is a bit much. A more apt context might be reaching 31 out of a possible 84 NCAA Tournaments. (Which is still just … fine?) There’s also the fact that, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data, the school reported spending $10.7 million on the sport in 2021-22, the most recent year available.
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That’s less than Ohio State, Maryland and Illinois, to name a few Big Ten peers. It’s less than half of what UConn reported spending.
The heights (Fab Five era, John Beilein’s run more recently) are undeniable and exactly the competitive level to aspire to. The league is one of the two leagues you want to be in, to ensure you’re absolutely safe in the roiling college athletics landscape. The city is perfect for any coach who will prioritize quality-of-life considerations. Jordan Brand sponsorship is no small deal. It’s still Michigan, so it’s not like you’re going to walk into a recruit’s living room and have to explain what the “M” on your pullover stands for.
The ceiling, at least at this very moment, is a little farther from view. But then that makes the opportunity even more enticing.
As for what matters most, the transfer portal is a tough vehicle at Michigan. It’s abundantly difficult to matriculate upperclassmen, meaning any coach is fairly limited to seeking freshmen transfer and grad students — a fairly limited pool, comparatively to everyone else. NIL-wise, the program is not exactly throwing around money, but the right coach with the right salesmanship should be able to raise whatever pool is necessary. This is Michigan.
Call List (in alphabetical order)
Amir Abdur-Rahim, South Florida head coach. One of the brightest young names in the game, the 42-year-old delivered incredible results in Year 1 at South Florida, going 26-6 overall and 16-2 in the AAC, after crafting a monumental turnaround at Kennesaw State. After going 1-28 in his first year at Kennesaw, Abdur-Rahim had the Owls dancing in the NCAA Tournament four years later with a 26-9 mark.
John Beilein, former Michigan head coach. This one is … complicated. Beilein left Michigan in the spring of 2019 to take a shot at the NBA after amassing a school-record 278 wins over 12 years and two national title game appearances. Beilein didn’t last one full season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but that’s not the ending that matters. His departure from Michigan didn’t sit well with current AD Warde Manuel, and there would need to be some mending between the two for Beilein’s return to Ann Arbor to have any real traction. Today, Beilein is 70, retired, and five seasons removed from coaching college basketball. Is that a bridge too far? Maybe. From his perspective, we’re confident in saying Beilein thinks he has more in the tank and would be open to embarking on the current world of NIL and the transfer portal, as long as the university has systems in place to do so in a way he’s comfortable with. But would Michigan seriously consider starting anew with a man of his age? That might be the larger question.
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Tony Bennett, Virginia head coach. A total wildcard, but it’s worth wondering if one of college basketball’s best coaches might want a change of scenery and a return to a place he knows well — the Big Ten. Michigan was interested in Bennett the last time around and we think will absolutely check back again and see what’s possible. If Bennett made the jump, it would be the coup of coups for Michigan and stand as a redeeming victory for Warde Manuel.
Anthony Grant, Dayton. This would be a really safe hire at any other time, and could certainly get a long look from Manuel, but we’re not sure if Grant would be the home run Michigan wants (or desperately needs). That said, it’s really hard to ignore a coach in the Midwest who has won over 70 percent of his league games over seven years and is about to take his alma mater back to the NCAA Tournament. How different would Grant’s resume look if his 2020 Dayton team hadn’t been robbed of a possible Final Four run? It’s worth considering. Grant didn’t have rousing success in his last high-major stop at Alabama, but he’s won a lot of games and is as respected in the business as anyone. Michigan could very well value both.
DeAndre Haynes, Marquette assistant coach. The 39-year-old Detroit native has spent the last three seasons as part of Shaka Smart’s renaissance. He’s extremely well-regarded inside the walls in Milwaukee. And there’s basically no chance Smart himself leaves a place that fits him perfectly, that supports men’s basketball at an elite level, for one that too closely mirrors the dynamic he struggled with at Texas. So maybe the lieutenant is worth a look. Another name in this area is Saddi Washington, a longtime Michigan assistant who was the lone member of Beilein’s coaching staff retained by Howard in 2019. Of note, Washington had Beilein’s endorsement as a replacement candidate when the job changed hands the last time, which could at least still carry a degree of weight.
Dusty May, Florida Atlantic head coach. He’s already reportedly deep into conversations for the Ohio State opening, and the likes of Louisville and West Virginia may also be heavily involved. Can Michigan nudge its way into line? Does it want to? The 10-year contract May signed in the offseason is no real impediment, and he’s expected make the jump, one way or another, this year. The fact that the Owls are still nationally relevant after last year’s Final Four run bolsters the argument that May isn’t a flash in the pan. Michigan will at least have to give him a strong look.
Niko Medved, Colorado State head coach. This would be a job the very selective Medved probably can’t say no to. He’s won 61 percent of his games at Colorado State, and the Rams’ offense and defense both rank in the top 40 nationally in efficiency this season. There’s no doubting Medved’s Xs and Os capabilities or his qualifications for a power-conference gig. He’s simply a guy who won’t move just anywhere. But Ann Arbor would give his family what they’re looking for in that regard.
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Porter Moser, Oklahoma head coach. After spending a few days firmly swirling in the waters of DePaul’s coaching search, Moser stated his full intentions to remain at Oklahoma. But now Oklahoma’s season is over (with Wednesday’s loss to TCU in the Big 12 tournament) and the Michigan job is open. Moser would at least have to listen, and we would be shocked to learn otherwise. Michigan will likely have enough interest to at least kick the tires.
Mark Pope, BYU head coach. Call this an outside-the-box flier. Pope’s tenure in Provo dipped slightly after a strong start, but has turned around dramatically in the Cougars’ first season of Big 12 play, a massive accomplishment. Pops can flat-out coach offense and has to be intriguing to a few smart programs looking to start anew. While Pope has deep allegiances to BYU, both personally and professionally, he has to wonder if he could realistically win a national championship with the roster limitations that are naturally in place. While many have long imagined Pope returning to Kentucky, where he won a national title, it doesn’t exactly seem like John Calipari is going anywhere anytime soon. So might Pope be interested in another massive brand with a high ceiling? Maybe.
Jerome Tang, Kansas State head coach. The instant success in Manhattan — an Elite Eight in Year 1 — made Tang the paradigm for longtime assistants biding time until the right opportunity comes along. It also earned him a new contract through 2029-30 that carries a $6 million buyout through April 30, 2024. Maybe not prohibitive, but enough to make administrators think.
And the hire is…
Maybe this ends with Dusty May in Ann Arbor. That’s the easiest dart to throw, but a lot of other places can say the same. Honestly, we have no idea, and new names are going to emerge on this list in short order.
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The Juwan Howard interview: Regrets, lost trust and the end of his Michigan coaching career
(Photo of Niko Medved: Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)