Howard Named National Coach of the Year, Credits Those Behind His Success

The former Fab 5 star thanked many, including God and family, in accepting the award, saying he's 'forever in debt' to seniors on Big Ten championship team

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Juwan Howard celebrates with senior captain Isaiah Livers, who said Howard displayed his great “character” in a comforting conversation upon learning Livers’ season had ended with a foot stress fracture.

(Photo Courtesy of University of Michigan)

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – If there’s such a thing as the consensus national coach of the year in college basketball, it would be Michigan’s Juwan Howard this season. He was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year late Thursday afternoon after being selected earlier by United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) for its Henry Iba Award as well by The Athletic and The Sporting News.

“I want to give a big, big thanks to the players,” Howard said on a Zoom call. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to get this award because they’re the ones out there sacrificing, competing, buying into the culture, buying into a coach that pushed them to get uncomfortable, and they really accepted it. And I’m just so happy that with all I was able to do, they helped me become the best version of myself.”

Howard, 48, also thanked his coaching staff of Phil Martelli, Saddi Washington and Howard Eisley as well as team staff, managers, fans, alumni and school administrators. He also thanked the men who coached him as a youth growing up on the South Side of Chicago, at Michigan and in the NBA – particularly Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who developed him as a player and assistant coach.

Then Howard spoke of faith and family:

“God – I’ve got to give much thanks and love to the man above, because he knew something in me that I didn’t know myself. And I’m just so happy he’s put me in a position to help impact these young men. I would never, ever take it for granted. And I will always do whatever I can to help serve others.

“And I don’t want to forget my wife (Jenine) and my kids (son Jace is a freshman on the team). She’s my biggest supporter no matter what. Thank you, baby.”

Howard became only the second Wolverine coach to win the award, joining Bill Frieder (1985), whose team that year was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament just as

Howard’s team was this year. And there’s a Howard connection to Frieder, who hired Steve Fisher as an assistant coach. Fisher recruited Howard and his Fab 5 teammates, taking them to the NCAA championship games in 1992 and 1993. Howard, winning 42 games in his first two seasons, surpassed the program record in that category held by Fisher (37).

Michigan (23-5) won its first Big Ten regular season championship (14-3) since 2014, lost in the conference tourney semi-finals, and had its season ended Tuesday night in an Elite Eight thriller against UCLA.

“Some of the moments that I will always remember are the bus rides, man,” said Howard. “The bus rides and some of the music that was being played…and some of the conversations that we had on the bus that (made) relationships even stronger. Those moments are ones that I’ll never forget, and I’ll always enjoy, and I’m going to miss this summer.”

It was the “relationships” rather than big wins over NCAA Tournament teams in Iowa, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Maryland (three times), Purdue, Rutgers and Michigan State that Howard chose as most memorable.

And that bond began with his senior class, which he welcomed back with open arms and a loud chuckle if they’d like to return in 2021-22. The NCAA granted that one-time option because of the COVID-19 impact on this season.

“Our senior class was amazing,” said Howard. “We’re truly going to miss them. I hope they remember that it’s a free year. So, if they want to come back, the invitation is open (hearty laughter). But it was fun to coach them, man. I really enjoyed the relationships with Isaiah (Livers), Austin Davis, Eli Brooks – also C.J. (Baird), one of our walk-ons, Rico (Ozuna-Harrison), Luke (Wilson) and (Jaron Faulds). And then you add guys like (transfers) Mike (Smith) and Chaundee (Brown, Jr.).

“They could’ve easily not bought in – (me) being a first-year head coach last year. But when you have guys like Zavier Simpson and Jon Teske – they (were) both great leaders (last season as captains). The two of them trusted me. I feel I had to earn their trust not just because I was part of the University of Michigan Fab 5 or a former player in the NBA for 19 years or an assistant coach in the NBA for six years.”

Howard replaced John Beilein, who won 848 games as a college coach and took Michigan to the Final Four in 2013 and 2018 before becoming head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in a move that did not work out.

Beilein recruited all of his seniors except for Smith (Columbia) and Brown (Wake Forest), both of whom Howard saw as perfect transfer fits in every way. Howard has often credited Beilein for the playing abilities and the character of the young men he inherited, and Beilein was invited to both Senior Nights Michigan has had under Howard.

“Not being a head coach in college, that (brought) a lot of concerns for a lot of people,” Howard continued. “But our players knew coming in that I came in with a selfless attitude, and that I was willing to learn from them and grow with them. And do whatever I can to help them become the best versions of themselves as student-athletes. And they saw that it was raw and real, and that’s where the beauty of coaching now allowed me to do my job.

“And our seniors were great leaders – teaching a lot of our younger guys, like our underclassmen, what it’s like to navigate through college life. Now, we have a younger group coming in next year, and the culture, it is what it is. Like I’ve always said with Michigan and our culture: ‘We’re not for everyone.’ So, while saying all that, our seniors (understood) that our culture could not be broken in any way. They’re going to be the great examples of coming back and letting the younger guys know what it’s like to be a part of the University of Michigan culture.

“So, I am forever in debt to our seniors.”

And they’ll forever be in debt to him.

Wolverine freshman center Hunter Dickinson, a second team All-America who spent priceless one-on-one time with his coach, said Howard was the source of the team’s selfless attitude.

“It really comes from him,” said Dickinson. “Coach Howard is a really selfless individual. And it’s easy to embrace that when you have guys who really accept their roles.”

Livers recalled getting the heartbreaking news that he had a stress fracture in his right foot as Michigan prepared to play Ohio State in the Big Ten semi-finals.

“Yeah, it was awful, honestly,” said Livers. “But I’ve got a leader, Coach Howard, Juwan Howard, who really helped me. Once I got the news, he was the first person I talked to on the phone. It says a lot about his character. He was there for me, he cared. It was comforting, especially hearing his voice. I had no words, but he did all the talking for me. And I got to talk to my parents (Angela and Morris Livers) and my family most importantly, and that really helped me get through it. I had to put myself aside and start thinking about my team.

“The doctor said it was one of those rare injuries. Especially on the outside of your toe/foot. I never had a stress fracture. If I’d known the feeling, I’d have sat my butt down. All I can do now is be a leader – a leader this team needs.”

And that is a great testament to Howard – more so than any awards he wins. He showed his players how to love, how to play, how to lead. And they’ll take that with them wherever they go, just like Howard himself did from the special coaches who molded him.