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Juwan Howard was officially hired as Michigan’s Men’s Basketball head coach last week, but Thursday was his unveiling to the world and his introductory press conference at mid-court of Crisler Center.
Here is a recap of the event in tweet form from both myself and MnB contributor Jay Sarkar from Crisler:
Howard’s entrance
Juwan Howard is here pic.twitter.com/Yo7MZBwPtF
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Michigan AD Warde Manuel intros Howard, thanks John Beilein and students
Warde Manuel thanks John Beilein, the student athletes and explains why he chose Juwan Howard. Calls it “his choice” pic.twitter.com/WxpeWTz68S
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Emotions ran high in Howard’s return to Crisler
An emotional Juwan Howard opens his presser as #Michigan’s head basketball coach. “I’m back.” pic.twitter.com/xoScnfc9fX
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Howard was thankful to his wife and family during his presser
Howard thanks his wife for the blessing to pursue his “dream job.”
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Howard said the itch to coach came around his 17th season in the NBA
"By my 17th year in the NBA I started to get the itch. Coaching was my calling... Now I come back to coach my alma mater and I am so proud to have an opportunity to embrace this moment." - Juwan Howard
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) May 30, 2019
Howard on doubts about his lack of coaching experience
Juwan Howard on those who doubt him as a first time head coach: “You have to start somewhere.” pic.twitter.com/S8XexB1jBA
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Howard has already heard from MSU’s Tom Izzo
Juwan Howard ready to compete with Tom Izzo. Says Izzo sent him a nice text to congratulate him on getting the job. pic.twitter.com/oRvZBYltI6
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Howard is ready to get to work on the recruiting trail, but has much learning to do
Howard said learning the NCAA rule book will be among his bigger challenges.
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) May 30, 2019
Howard believes a championship culture with the Miami Heat prepared him for this
"I came from a culture, the Miami Heat culture that is a championship caliber culture. I learned from Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra. Three championships, two championships I was involved with. Four straight NBA Finals. The last one I was an assistant coach." - Howard
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) May 30, 2019
Howard was interested as soon as he heard Beilein was out the door
Juwan Howard on when the idea of coaching Michigan first popped into his head after Beilein departed. pic.twitter.com/23WGQO0rlW
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) May 30, 2019
Juwan Howard said as soon as he heard John Beilein was leaving, this job was in the back of his mind. He was offered the associate head coaching job with the Minnesota Timberwolves. pic.twitter.com/PEmJ9hrJJE
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Warde Manuel went to bat for Howard and what he brings as a candidate
"In the last two years, 110 schools changed basketball coaches. A lot of those who changed had great deals of experience. Let him (Howard) evolve into a great had coach of his own. I am willing to gamble with people that love this place the way he does. Let him evolve" - Manuel.
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) May 30, 2019
This did not come with other motives in terms of the Fab Five
"Let me be clear, Juwan Howard is hired to coach our basketball team and lead them to tremendous success. He is not here to reunite and raise banners." - Manuel on possible Fab Five reunion chatter that has come up.
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) May 30, 2019
Manuel said a counteroffer to Beilein was not possible because he accepted the Cavs job
"I was very surprised. He called and told me he had accepted the job so there was nothing to discuss. The timing... He called and simply said 'I have already accepted the job, so that leads us to celebrate Juwan Howard being here today." - Manuel on Beilein's departure.
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) May 30, 2019
This was Warde Manuel’s response to if he had a chance to make a counteroffer to John Beilein. Door was never left open. JB called and said he accepted the job. pic.twitter.com/3JEx7Y2Xiq
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019
Manuel goes in depth on the Fab Five stuff and the banners. As transparent as it gets here pic.twitter.com/O38YKyBe2p
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) May 30, 2019