Juwan Howard speaks about importance of Michigan alums supporting program

As a former player at Michigan, head coach Juwan Howard has more than a small appreciation for the history of the program. That was, in many ways, shown when the Wolverines welcomed the 1964 and 1974 Big Ten champions, as well as the 1989 national champions who attended the game against Michigan State.

After the game, Howard was asked if his team had any interaction with those alums at the game and he shared how his current team interacted with them.

“Let me first start, I’ll repeat myself from yesterday because it was just truly an honor to have the guys that, of course, paved the way for me and for our team,” Juwan Howard said. “To do some special things here at the University of Michigan, to represent this maze and blue as champions, that’s something that you can always appreciate from their years of being called winners.”

As a player at Michigan, Juwan Howard played on one of the best known teams in Michigan history, the Fab Five. He’s been the head coach at Michigan since 2019 and has made two NCAA Tournament appearances, going to the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight. That experience has helped him appreciate the program’s long history.

“To have an opportunity to meet them, those teams, and our players getting a chance to shake their hand and also to hear their why and why they chose Michigan and also to hear some of the stories on their journey and their time here at the University of Michigan, it was a wonderful opportunity yesterday. That’s something that we’re always going to appreciate.”

Juwan Howard also clarified that both players and staff went to a dinner for those alums and did so out of respect for them.

“No, they were dining and we went to go. I thought it was out of respect to go upstairs after practice and meet them and say a few words, let them know how we appreciate them.”

Michigan AD Warde Manuel expresses support for men’s basketball coach Juwan Howard

It has been a difficult season on the court for Michigan, now having lost three in a row and eight of the team’s last nine games. Still, athletic director Warde Manuel expressed his support for Juwan Howard.

“I have not really thought about any changes in our men’s basketball program at this time,” Manuel said. “I mean, it’s one of those things that, you know, I guess I can’t say it any clearer: I want to support Juwan to be successful and have not given any moment and thought of anything about changes at this time. And so my support is of him, of our student athletes and our staff.”