By Damon Knight
With only a month away from the start of college basketball season, Wolverine fans have been anticipating the long awaited debut of its newest head coach and former Michigan alum, Juwan Howard. Howard, 46, becomes the 17th head coach in the schools history; He’ll be taking over for long time head coach Jim Beilein, who took the head coaching job for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It’s a dream come true for me to be able to come back to my alma mater,” Howard said. “I’m proud to call myself a Michigan Man.”
Howard will have some big shoes to fill after signing a five-year contract, which will grant him $2 million in his first year and a base salary of $400,000 a year.
Howard said, “Well, I’m the rookie.”
Upon the news of his hiring, many of Howard’s peers as well as current and former athletes of the university, took to social media to express their excitement.
According to former Michigan Offensive lineman, Jake long said, “This is awesome! Welcome home Coach Howard.”
Quentin Richardson also chimed in and said, “Congrats to Michigan on hiring Juwan Howard. I say congrats to Michigan first because they are lucky to have Juwan!! For so many yes in Chicago we I came up under Juwan and he always set a great example of how to be a true pro on/off the floor and always have back in the community!”
One player who was really excited to have that professional presence on/off the floor was none other than current Junior forward Isaiah Livers.
“I almost hit my head on the top of the living room,” Livers said Thursday, the day Howard was officially introduced. “I was like, ‘Juwan Howard! Ex-Fab Five, played in the NBA, was an NBA coach?’ Who wouldn’t be happy about that? I met him already before, so I already knew what type of guy he was, so I was just super stoked.” Michigan will play its first game against Saginaw Valley State at the Breslin Center on Friday, November 1st at 7PM ET.
