Exit Jon Sanderson
Except that the other side of the story has a history of losing control that’s all on video.
So now the Athletic is a reputable source of information?
What does Barstool say?
Sucks that he is gone and Juwan is still employed here, but given everything that has happened I’m not at all surprised to see him look for a position where he is better supported by the coaches and AD.
I feel like he should have waited until after the basketball season to see if Juwan would leave.
The fact that Juwan is still around after punching an opposing coach and running the program into the ground faster than I thought possible, let alone everything that happened between him and Sanderson specifically, is all Sanderson needed to know.
I wish you weren't right but you probably are.
Agreed although technically, it was a slap not a punch. Not that it should
matter.
From The Athletic article:
On Dec. 8, according to documents obtained by The Athletic, Sanderson shared his version of events of what followed in an email to Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel.
Sanderson wrote that Jace Howard “was berating” the trainer and caused a “scene” that prompted several players to stop and watch. Sanderson described the scene as “totally out of control,” and said the trainer was trying to calm Jace Howard down and get him to discuss the matter privately. Noticing the trainer looking increasingly desperate and “panicked,” Sanderson intervened, yelling at Howard from roughly 30 feet away “you’re a student athlete and he is a professional. You don’t talk to a professional like that. That is disrespectful and entitled.” He said he repeated that the tirade was “disrespectful.”
Sanderson wrote in the email to Manuel that he tried to de-escalate the situation, turning his back and walking away. When Sanderson looked back, he said Juwan Howard came at him, “angry and ready to fight,” repeatedly yelling as players and staff held him back.
“He kept aggressively pursuing me to fight, as the players and staff were doing their best to restrain him. He was out of control, it was an ugly scene. I had no choice but to stand my ground, I didn’t back down. A few of the players and staff got in front of me as well in an effort to keep us separated,” Sanderson wrote.
Sanderson wrote that players and staff were ultimately able to restrain Howard, after which the team started practice and Sanderson went to his office.
This is HIS version of events but it sounds exactly like a couple of other incidents Juwan has been involved in on the court. The anger management stuff seems to be really helping him 🙄. When the dude sees red, it’s over unless there is something in his way to stop it.
Agreed. Let's be fair and remember that that's only 1 side of the story, BUT to your point, it's a version of events that is broadly believable.
It sounds like there were a lot of witnesses to this whole event. Which side of the story is true should be easy to determine. If all of the players and observers took Juwan's side then I'm not surprised that Sanderson left.
It may very well be that the trainers took Sanderson's side and the players and assistant coaches took Juwan's.
What is Juwan's side? Have we seen Juwan's version? Maybe it's the same. Sanderson was yelling at Jace, Juwan confronted Sanderson, Sanderson yelled back, they had to be separated. I don't necessarily think they'd have a different version of events. Just a difference of opinion about who was justified and who wasn't.
Or the players told the side that they witnessed and Warde didn’t do shit about it? All it’s going to take is one transfer out for the story to surface if there is anything to it.
And there's probably no version of the events that's favorable to Juwan. Given his past incidents, he should not have gotten into a heated altercation with Sanderson. Any disagreement should have been handled privately and quietly.
Sanderson’s own account says he yelled at Jace from over 30 feet away multiple times. Sanderson also stated he had to stand up to Juwan and could not back down.
As a professional adult in a position of leadership, I agree, Sanderson should have handled this very differently.
Sanderson’s own account doesn’t make Sanderson look very good. I’d be interested to hear all of the witnesses interpretations of the situation. I’m guessing Sanderson comes off even worse than his own story which isn’t very flattering.
At this point what's worse: Juwan's anger management or his roster management?
Quite frankly, both suck...
That this can be asked in all truthfulness is another reason JuH is done at Michigan whether Warde sees it or not... This is exactly what opposing coaches are asking recruits! Why would any of them come and play for JuH?
Right now we look like a 6 man roster for next season so it aint getting any better.
I mean he is from the south side of Chicago.
GET RID OF HOWARD. WTF
Dang, I remember way back when it was fun to have sons of former star players on the team (Hardaway, Robinson et al). The Howards just hit different.
Well it's kinda different when the former players aren't coaching the team. I doubt Hardaway Sr or GR2 spent much time around Crisler.
Hardaway Sr and his barely-on beanie were a Crisler staple
Yes, but it was also unfortunately reported that Hardaway Sr. and son did not have a great relationship growing up.
They didn't, but to THsr's credit he recognized that and grew as a person and a father.
I'm sure the Board may have covered the situation, but this is the first I've actually read about the incident. Admittedly, there's two sides to every story, so I say this with some caution: If this report is true, how was Juwan able to retain his position? Isn't he on double-secret probation at this point, given Wisconsin and other (multiple) situations?
What was really fun a few years ago has turned into a complete sideshow and embarrassment.
Juwan should be fired but make no mistake Sanderson knew exactly how to write this up
And?
In Sanderson's previous 14 seasons here, did we ever hear anything negative about the guy? Anything about him being a loose cannon or quick to get into it with coaches/players? Not that I know of.
Otoh, Juwan's anger has been on display multiple times for all to see. Yes, this one side of the story, but it's not hard to believe.
Good point about Sanderson's track record over 14 years.
He's able to retain his position because Warde ALWAYS does the least possible. Easier to keep him than have to search for a new coach
I know there are two sides to every story but this is a horrible look for any team. Having a parent try and attack a coach for disciplining a young adult, who at this point in their life should know you don't treat people that way. Having that parent be the head coach with a history of those actions is unacceptable.
Howard should have been suspended unless Sanderson physically went after Jace (which is hard to believe). At the same time, the school worked out the termination of his employment, not for this one action but for multiple interactions where Coach Howard felt violence was an acceptable way to solve a problem.
If that's accurate, it goes a long way toward explaining Michigan's on-court problems with effort and demeanor.
Firstly, I wonder if Sanderson wrote that or his lawyer.
Secondly, this sounds perfectly worded if you're trying to get a guy fired that you don't like.
Thirdly, there are a bunch of witnesses according to this email. I can't believe Warde would be dumb enough to keep Howard on the sideline if all these guys backed up Sanderson's story.
Finally, why is this being handled over email and not in person? I mean, at least do a Zoom and record the meeting for transparency sake.
I would assume there is also good camera coverage in the facility, so the AD would theoretically be able to pull the tapes and see what happened.
The cameras signs were stolen. Stallioned!!!
"I can't believe Warde would be dumb enough"
is about the funniest thing i've read
Seems like the situation is a bad look for Juwan one way or the other (on top of a number of bad looks already), so not excusing the guy...
However, I don't think Sanderson looks great in this case either. By his own admission "yelling" at an already animated player that said player is "disrespectful" and "entitled"? That is not a way to "deescalate" a situation. You take that approach if the kid is stepping out of line in a joking, aloof kind of way. But if the kid is already upset, you have to find a way to calm him down before you play the "disrespect" card...
Anyway, sounds like it was a bad day at the office for Sanderson. That he even said what he said about Jace out loud suggests that his frustration with Juwan's leadership had reached a boiling point. Juwan, unfortunately, has reached multiple boiling points. I don't think Sanderson looks good here, but I still take his track record of success over Howard's. Unfortunately, the damage is clearly done.
I hope Juwan gets in the wrong guy's face and gets knocked the fuck out. What a clown this guy is.
Things haven't worked out, but Juwan obviously loves the university. Wishing that he gets his ass kicked is all kinds of fucked up, man.
If he loved the university, he wouldn’t bring discredit to it with his actions.
Of course this is Sandmans side of the story so Im sure it skews a least a little his way…….but man that story sounds very plausible and Id bet its largely true
Ok, sure, one side of story but this is probably accurate based on his other incidents. Calm the fuck down Howard, JFC, are you an adult?
Dude should do himself a favor and leave on his own terms, he clearly isn't head coaching material in college or pro...I mean, he will never be a HC in pro, not after this stint.
When the loudest defenders of JH on this board are now saying time to go, uh its time to go. 3 more games then we all get to see what Warde is made of...I think we already know
Warde isn’t going to embarrass a former Michigan player who he hired by firing him mid season for lack of performance. Still think this thing with Sanderson isn’t totally what is written but does further show Juwan has created a program that lacks discipline, accountability, and structure.
I’ll wait to season is over and what transpires to throw Warde under bus.
Most of you went crazy that we don’t have NIL money in football yet a report just came out and we are one of the tops in the nation now. Might not of been Warde with “lack” of NIL
Happy for him to get away from this dumpster fire of a program and go somewhere he can have an impact that will actually make a difference.
Well, he has made a difference. Just not the kind we would have hoped for. Actually, I really just wanted the boost in recruiting that I assumed we'd get with Juwan... and hold the team steady, we would have been a fantastic program. But he just isn't a very good head coach, at least not yet. All of the anger issues are just icing on the cake. But it's like horseradish frosting, on a moldy fruit cake.
Bummer - kind of expected this to happen unfortunately. That hurts.
Get rid of Juwan now.
He has anger issues. If this was an isolated incident then NBD, but he was on a zero tolerance policy after Wisconsin. This is too much.
The university has known about this for 3 months and did NOTHING.
Why is the school protecting a BAD coach?
I think Warde didn’t like that Moeller got fired 30 years ago, and the lesson he learned from that is “firing people is bad.” It worked out for us with Harbaugh, but that only reinforced the faulty “don’t fire coaches” premise. The Mel Pearson saga and now Juwan have been massively embarrassing to the department as both were kept long past the point where M should have parted ways. Firing people that perform poorly or embarrass the University is part of his job, and if he’s not willing to do the job, Michigan needs to find someone that is.