Juwan Howard gives passionate response on enjoying life as a coach

It’s been a tough season for Michigan basketball, as the Wolverines fell to Illinois on Tuesday in a lopsided 97-68 loss that marked their seventh defeat in the team’s last eight games.

The Wolverines sit at the bottom of the Big Ten standings with a 3-11 record in conference play and an 8-17 record on the season. With that in mind, Michigan head coach Juwan Howard was asked if he’s still enjoying the daily grind of coaching following Tuesday night’s loss. Giving a powerful answer despite the ball not bouncing the Wolverines’ way this season.

“Let me tell you this, September 15th I spent 15 days in the hospital with open heart surgery and those 15 days in the hospital were like nights of thinking and appreciating life and always will,” Howard said. “And so now to be here coaching, that’s a blessing. A guy who almost lost his life. So do I enjoy coaching? You’re damn right I do.”

Howard missed an extended amount of time with the Wolverines following a heart procedure this summer, returning to the sidelines for Michigan’s 11th game of the season in a win over Eastern Michigan. Only adding to his appreciation for the game and the opportunity to coach for the Wolverines.

“And I enjoy being with these young men and learning from them and growing with them. I enjoy working with my staff and challenging each other, helping each other grow. I enjoy the crowd, all the BS that they say to me that’s trying to of course distract me. I enjoy that, that’s what competitors do. When you’re a competitor this is what you’ve grown so much [to love] and embraced,” Howard explained.

Howard spent three seasons with the Wolverines as a player in the early 90s, a part of Michigan’s iconic Fab Five that made two trips to the national championship. Which was followed by a lengthy 20-year NBA career capped off with two NBA Finals wins with the Miami Heat, as he continues to live out his basketball dream despite Michigan’s lack of success in this particular season.

“I never forget as a kid growing up here in Chicago I always wanted to be a basketball player. Again, to accomplish being an NBA basketball and then have an opportunity to coach on the collegiate level at my alma mater? Man this is a blessing. A lot of people would love to have this job, but I don’t look at it as a job,” Howard concluded.

Howard took home numerous coach of the year awards in 2021 after leading Michigan to a Big Ten regular season title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But the 2023-20424 season will unfortunately represent his worst at the helm for the Wolverines barring a miraculous postseason push.

Michigan will look to turn things around in their next matchup, as they take on in-state rival Michigan State on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET.