Juwan Howard
Michigan's basketball program had become pretty lame under the leadership of Coach Juwan Howard, one of the school's legendary "Fab 5." The team's 8-24 record was one of its worst seasons in 60 years.
So, after five years as coach, the university fired him on Friday.
Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News writes:
It took only five seasons to fall from celebrated heights to this. That’s not much time, but it was time to end it. AD Warde Manuel announced Howard’s firing Friday, saying “the program was not living up to our expectations,” and a national search would begin immediately. The downward trend was too troubling to ignore, and it had to pain Manuel to dismiss a guy he took a chance on, a first-time head coach after six seasons as a respected assistant with the Miami Heat.
It was a bold gambit by Manuel that showed early promise, then fizzled. The next move is more critical and can’t be as risky, and must be based on something sturdier. Programs aren’t just built on names and goodwill vibes, at least not the sustainable ones. Michigan needs an experienced coach who can handle recruiting, the transfer portal and alumni obligations.
Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press writes:
Last year arrived and he could never figure out how to coach his lottery-pick talented son and his team, and the on-court chemistry between Jett Howard and Hunter Dickinson never gelled. The team underachieved and missed the NCAA tournament...
In the end, Howard couldn’t sustain his early success in the transfer portal. Nor was he able to gather enough high-end talent on the recruiting trail.
On the court, his teams the last two years too often looked disorganized, and the lack of structure became a source of frustration for almost anyone who loved watching the Maize and Blue.
John Gasaway of ESPN said: Michigan stopped being good at the things that got it so close to that national semifinal. This season, the Wolverines couldn't defend the paint, couldn't hang onto the ball and couldn't score in close. Three years ago, UM featured Hunter Dickinson and Franz Wagner -- who was at least succeeded by Caleb Houstan. When Dickinson transferred to Kansas, though, things went awry.
