Juwan Howard with a remarkably classy statement about coaching at Michigan
“I want to thank the University, Board of Regents, and AD Warde Manuel for the privilege of coaching Michigan, my university, for these past five years.
During my tenure as head coach, we shared memorable seasons and achievements, including a Big Ten championship, back to back Sweet Sixteen appearances and being within one game of the Final Four. I was honored to be named AP National Coach-of-the-Year and the Big Ten Coach-of-[the]-Year in 2021.
My devotion and dedication to this program and most importantly, to my players and their family, provided a challenge that I welcomed and embraced, which required me to grow and expand my capabilities both personally and professionally.
My health challenges during this past season tested my resolve, but true to the form of a Michigan Man, I stood and faced them, with the support of my family, players and staff. I want to give a special shout out to All players I coached… you guys were and will always be my EVERYTHING!
Michigan will always be a significant part of my legacy, and I will be a significant part of theirs.”
Michigan Man Forever.
Go Blue!”
Juwan will always be a Michigan legend. Who is the part of the most famous basketball team in college basketball history. He also coached us to markable season before things started to trend downwards. It’s hard to be fired, especially from your beloved university - particularly when the beginning of the season involved a life-threatening, open-heart surgery. And yet, here he is releasing such a classy, thoughtful, and inspiring statement. Coach Howard made a couple of serious mistakes (as we all have), but his character of caring for others and treating players like family members speaks for itself. Congrats on your career playing and coaching at Michigan, and best wishes in your next endeavor Coach!
Thank you for your contributions, Mr. Howard.
Go Blue! Stay Blue.
Wanted it work out for him - still hope he stays involved with the university in some capacity.
I honestly feel bad he got fired this year, and between the health issues, the weird transfer blockages, and everything else it's a rough way to go out. But everyone seems to be handling the separation well and that's a testament to Howard, Warde, and everyone else involved.
The university should have allowed him to resign instead of firing him.
Then Juwan wouldn't be owed $3 million.
I know he has a lot of money, but everyone would know he was being forced out, and I think he might as well take the $3 million.
He wasn't going to resign. The only way he wasn't going to be the coach was if they fired him.
Well, I would not have expected anything less from him.
I am still sad that this did not unfold as anyone had hoped, even if this really was what had to be in the end.
Best of luck, coach.
Right on Juwan.
What did you expect him to do?
I really wished that things worked out for Howard here... I was beyond thrilled when he was hired and did so well initially.
When things went downhill last year, I was hoping that this year would prove people wrong. Unfortunately it was not to be.... Lots of reasons for that, but at the end of the day the buck stops at the coach...it wasn't just the losing record - there were other issues that have been discussed ad infinitum. Admissions was a part of it, but Michigan adminssions haven't changed underneath of him (Even though many of us think it needs to); it was something he needed to understand in advance of recruting a player from the portal
Wishing the best for Howard - I am sure he will end up getting another job pretty quickly in the NBA.
I still think he should have been kicked upstairs.
Still forever a fan of Juwan. Really wish he would have worked out.
Hang the banners.
It really sucks and hurts that it didn't work out and got ugly over the last two years. I hope that one day we can see him back at Crisler with the rest of the Fab Five, where we can remember him for his success as a player and the success he had in his first couple seasons as a coach. I'll also never forget that iconic 2021 moment when Juwan was the first person to run out and embrace Jim Harbaugh and celebrate him taking down Ohio State in the Michigan Stadium snow.
Hot take alert. Bringing his sons in did him no favors. Perception of favoritism with Jett (no D is OK) and overly protective of Jace in the training incident were two major reasons for him not being here anymore.
March 17th, 2024 at 10:18 PM ^
But if we are to take Sanderson and Quinn at face value, Juwan "manhandled" Jett in front of everyone.
Best wishes always Coach. Godspeed with your continued recovery healthwise. Go Blue!
March 17th, 2024 at 10:11 PM ^
This is also a good reminder that Juwan Howard's story is not yet fully written. Yes, things didn't work out here for him as the MBB head coach, but he could still become a very good head coach (NBA or college) and use this as a learning experience.
Go Blue! indeed
March 17th, 2024 at 11:44 PM ^
Overall he seems a gracious individual, but it's those moments of adversity when you make your bones or break 'em. You swing at another coach and you show how in over your head you are for the heat. The incident is isolated, but the moment is telling. Like Jimmy Lake at Seattle who never coached another game after swinging at a player on the field.. or Woody. ADs gotta know. With Juwan it came after some real success which gave pause. But he really was in over his head after all.
All the best to him.
March 18th, 2024 at 12:29 AM ^
"Remarkably" classy implies that he would be expected to issue a terse or tepid response. Regardless of how you feel about him as a coach, I never got the indication that he didn't care about the university. And he points out his accomplishments while ignoring the negatives. All in all, it's a pretty stock response from a guy who's relatively young and will probably continue his coaching career.
Guys we need to acknowledge that being a HC at any top program is a big, complex, and difficult job. And otherwise great people can still fail at that job.
I will root for Juwan where ever he goes.
But he lacked something, recruiting, temperament, something else, to become truly successful here. He failed, but it's a hard task.
Godspeed JH.
If you are an honest person, absolutely none of us wanted it to end this way. I had such high hopes and really wanted Juwan to succeed. He was never the same after he lost his mentor and friend Donnie Kirksey from Covid complications. My heart goes out to him and all the Michigan faithful. Go Blue Coach.
how was this classy? this is table stakes, and for most of it he is singing his own praises.
March 18th, 2024 at 10:13 AM ^
Still bummed it didn't work out for him. Still a big fan of himself and the other Fab 5 members. Jalen, Juwan, and Chris all were amazing players in college, and in the pros, and have had great success as analysts, and until the last 2 years, as a coach (also as community leaders for the youth).
Class acts, that I am proud went to UofM. Hope they all are celebrated by the University and the community for a long time for their contributions as students and as Alum.
I don't think it's "remarkable". Why would we expect less? Juwan is a Michigan Man.
Classy is the expectation, right in line with leaders and best.
Juwan was a competitor. If you don't win 25 or more games and you get pissed off at different people you will eventually be fired. Bobby Knight survived numerous temper tantrums that paled anything that Juwan had done but 3 national championships and 11 big ten championships helped keep him at Indiana. If Juwan had sat out this year as he should have he would still be coach as he more than likely would not have attacked his son within eyesight of several coaches.