From the moment Jim Harbaugh set foot on campus, it seemed like the NFL rumors began. Regardless of Michigan’s success — or struggles — almost every offseason there is a head coaching vacancy that is “a perfect fit” for Harbaugh, or maybe even “one he cannot refuse.”
Now, Juwan Howard gets to join the party. With openings like the Boston Celtics job up for grabs, many in the industry pointed to the Wolverines main man as the leading candidate, having both NBA assistant coaching experience and now some tangible collegiate success as a head coach.
Like Harbaugh, Howard does not seem to be going anywhere. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed Thursday what most Michigan fans already knew to be true:
Sources: Michigan’s Juwan Howard continues to tell NBA teams he's not interested in even a discussion on leaving Ann Arbor. Teams are also calling to gather intel on Memphis coach Penny Hardaway's work. He's going to get offers to interview for openings in this NBA job cycle.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2021
On a national level, it is no surprise analysts try to tie Howard into these jobs. The Celtics have a rich history and Howard is “only” a college coach — why would anyone pass down this opportunity?
However, this just shows how disconnected the national media can be. Howard cried at his introductory press conference. He has one son already on the team and another soon to be joining them. To say leaving Michigan after two years would be shocking is an understatement.
This is going to be far from the last time we hear these types of rumors, but rarely will these analysts ever recognize the full story.
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