Michigan, head men's basketball coach Juwan Howard parting ways after 5 seasons

A big move has been made atop the Michigan men’s basketball program, as head coach Juwan Howard is on the outs following five seasons at the helm in Ann Arbor, the university announced on Friday. It’s a somewhat expected decision after Howard and the Wolverines backslid of late.

“After a comprehensive review of the program, I have decided that Juwan will not return as our men’s basketball coach,” said Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel. “Juwan is among the greatest Wolverines to ever be associated with our basketball program. I know how much it meant, to not only Juwan, but to all of us for him to return here to lead this program. Despite his love of his alma mater and the positive experience that our student-athletes had under his leadership, it was clear to me that the program was not living up to our expectations and not trending in the right direction. I am thankful for Juwan’s dedication, passion and commitment to U-M and for all that he, and his legacy, will continue to mean to Michigan.”

Howard started relatively strong during his tenure at Michigan, his alma mater, after getting hired to replace John Beilein ahead of the 2019-20 season. Michigan went 19-12 in Howard’s first year, which was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, in 2020-21, the Wolverines turned in the best season under Howard, a 23-5 campaign and run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament after earning a No. 1 seed. He was named the AP Coach of the Year that season. The Wolverines would return to the NCAA Tournament in 2022, making a run to the Sweet 16 as a No. 11 seed, sneaking in the tournament with a 19-15 record.

Things turned the last two seasons for Howard, as Michigan went 18-16 in 2022-23 and finished under .500 for the first time under him this season.

And for whatever success he had, Howard also flirted with career disaster when he and Wisconsin coach Greg Gard sparked a postgame altercation that resulted in Howard slapping a Badgers assistant in 2021. Howard wasn’t fired for the offense, but was suspended and effectively put on a shorter leash for such incidents.

He’s also been challenged by his health lately, undergoing open heart surgery prior to this most recent season. The recovery from the surgery kept Howard off the sidelines for games until December 2023.

Howard was also able to attract high-level recruits to Michigan early in his tenure, something that tailed off in the second half of his tenure. Michigan produced two lottery picks among six players drafted during his tenure. One of those two, Franz Wagner, was recruited by Beilein and the other was Jett Howard, one of Howard’s sons.

Howard’s connection to Michigan stems from his playing days with the Wolverines as a member of the Fab Five, a group largely regarded for ushering many of the modern trends still in college basketball. After starring at Michigan, Howard was selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards.

After a lengthy NBA career, in which he won a pair of championships with the Miami Heat, Howard moved to the coaching staff in South Beach before the opening came up at his alma mater.

And even as Howard and the Wolverines were struggling in February, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel tried to offer support for the embattled head coach.

“I have not really thought about any changes in in our men’s basketball program at this time,” Manuel said on Feb. 14. “I mean, it’s 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.”

But whatever support Manuel was providing Howard then will now be mustered for whoever replaces him in Ann Arbor.