On Friday, the University of Michigan made the decision to alter its men’s basketball program by firing head coach Juwan Howard after five seasons. In a farewell message, athletic director Warde Manual referred to Howard as “among the greatest Wolverines to ever be associated with our basketball program”. The initiative was “not trending in the right direction” and was not meeting expectations, the statement added.
In response to the news, Howard thanked the school and many others, including Manual, in a statement he released on Sunday. Despite health issues during the 2023–24 season, he expressed gratitude to his family, the Wolverines players, and the staff, noting the program’s achievements throughout his five seasons as head coach.
Howard is without a doubt a “Michigan man forever,” as he put it, having also played three seasons at Michigan from 1991–1992. Before the 2019–20 season, he assumed leadership of the program and guided it to a 1912 record. 2020–21 was Howard’s finest season, finishing 23–5 and rising as high as No. 2 in the nation.
Michigan advanced to the NCAA tournament that year and finished first in the regular season before falling to UCLA in the Elite Eight. Under Howard’s direction, Michigan qualified for the tournament twice and advanced to the dance in 2022 before losing to Villanova 63–55 in the Sweet 16. After 159 games as Michigan’s coach, Howard’s record was 87–72.