Men's Basketball
- Title:
- David and Meredith Kaplan Men's Basketball Head Coach
Former University of Michigan All-American and Fab Five member Juwan Howard is preparing to begin his fifth season patrolling the sidelines of his alma mater as the David and Meredith Kaplan men’s basketball head coach.
During his first four seasons in Ann Arbor, Howard has compiled a 79-46 record, with two NCAA Tournament (2021 & 2022) selections as well as a postseason NIT appearance (2023). Capturing the 2021 Big Ten regular-season title (14-3) under Howard, the Wolverines have posted four straight 10-plus Big Ten win seasons as he has tallied a 46-31 mark in conference play. Howard's four 10-plus win seasons helped the Maize and Blue extend the program's streak to eight straight seasons, as well as in 11 of the last 12 seasons with double-digit Big Ten wins.
In addition to the program's 15th Big Ten title, Howard's Wolverines had to back-to-back Sweet 16s (2021 & 2022) part of five straight advancements to the second weekend for the Maize and Blue. While navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, U-M fell just short of the program's seventh trip to the Final Four falling to UCLA 51-49 in the 2021 Elite Eight. The Wolverines were primed for a third NCAA selection, but COVID-19 canceled the 2020 Big Ten and NCAA postseasons. In 2023, U-M was selected for the postseason NIT, where the Maize and Blue advanced to the second round.
Beginning his collegiate coaching career, Howard's U-M squad rattled off seven straight victories to begin the 2019-20 season, including upsets of No. 6 North Carolina (73-64) and No. 8 Gonzaga (82-64) to capture the Battle 4 Atlantis championship. As a result of the start, U-M went from unranked to the No. 4 spot -- tying the highest jump in the 70-year history of the Associated Press poll. After collecting 19 total wins and posting a 10-10 conference record, the Wolverines were poised to make another trip to the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments; however, the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his second season, the Wolverines closed 23-5, claiming U-M's 15th conference regular-season title. With a 14-3 record, U-M earned the program's second No. 1 seed at the Big Ten Tournament. On Selection Sunday, Howard's Wolverines were granted the No. 1 seed in the NCAA East Region -- the third top seed in U-M history and Howard became the first to earn a No. 1 seed as both a player and as a coach.
After a heartbreaking 68-67 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten semifinal, U-M continued to navigate COVID-19, moving on to the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament following wins over Texas Southern (82-66) and LSU (86-78). A second weekend-opening victory over Florida State (76-58) sent U-M to a fourth Elite Eight in its last eight NCAA trips. Ultimately, U-M fell 51-49 in the regional final to the NCAA's Cinderella story in No. 11 seed UCLA.
Despite the Elite Eight setback, Howard was selected as the 2021 Associated Press National Coach of the Year -- the Wolverines' second recipient and first since Bill Frieder in 1985. Howard became the first Big Ten coach to earn the prestigious honor since 2005 (Bruce Weber, Illinois).
The AP honor highlighted a slew of coaching accolades for Howard, as he was the recipient of the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Henry Iba Award as well being named National Coach of the Year by The Athletic and the Sporting News. Howard added Big Ten Coach of the Year accolades by the coaches and media, as well as by the Associated Press, and earned the USBWA's District V Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 7 Coach of the Year.
During the 2021-22 season, the Wolverines highlighted their season with a dominating 82-58 win over No. 3 Purdue as well as a surprise run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. As the No. 11 seed in the South Regional, the Maize and Blue upset No. 6 seed Colorado State (75-63) and No. 3 seed Tennessee (76-68) to advance to the second weekend for a fifth straight tournament. Unfortunately, U-M's run ended as the Wolverines fell 63-55 to No. 2 seed Villanova.
With a late-season surge pushing Michigan into a potential NCAA bid, the Wolverines closed the 2022-23 regular season with three straight overtime thrillers -- Wisconsin (W, 87-79), at Illinois (L, 91-87 2OT) and at Indiana (L, 75-73). The Wolverines missed an NCAA bid, but went on to play in the postseason NIT. After defeating Mid-American regular-season champion Toledo 90-80 in the first round at Crisler Center, the Wolverines were eliminated after a 66-65 heartbreaker setback at Vanderbilt.
Under Howard's guidance, Wolverine big man Hunter Dickinson was named a consensus All-America second team honoree as well as the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year (coaches & media) in 2021. Over his three seasons, Dickinson earned six All-Big Ten accolades -- first team (2x) and second team (4x). A two-time preseason All-Big Ten selection (2022, '23), Dickinson tied the U-M record (Trey Burke) with seven Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.
In addition to Dickinson, six other Wolverines earned All-Big Ten honors under Howard. Zavier Simpson was a second team selection in 2020, while Isaiah Livers earned two in 2020 (honorable mention) and 2021 (2nd). Franz Wagner earned second (coaches) and third team (media) honors in 2021 and Eli Brooks was tabbed honorable mention in 2022. In 2023, Kobe Bufkin and Jett Howard were both named third team members by the coaches, adding honorable mention honors by the media.
Howard has coached a Wolverines rookie to a spot on the Big Ten's All-Freshman team in four consecutive seasons -- Wagner (2020), Dickinson (2021), Moussa Diabate (2022) and Jett Howard (2023). In 2022, Caleb Houstan was named at the Big Ten's preseason Freshman of the Year selection.
Under Howard's tutelage, four of his Wolverines have gone on to the NBA, including Wagner, who was a lottery pick by the Orlando Magic at the No. 8 spot in the 2021 draft. In that same draft, Livers was chosen by the Detroit Pistons in the second round at No. 42. In the following draft, Houstan and Diabate left early and were both taken in the 2022's second round at No. 32 (Orlando) and No. 43 (L.A. Clippers), respectively.
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Howard's return to his alma mater for his first head coaching position came after spending six years on the staff with the NBA's Miami Heat. After spending one season in player development following his retirement, Howard was elevated to an assistant coach in 2014-15 working under Erik Spoelstra for the next five seasons.Â
During Howard's time on the bench with Miami, the Heat won three division titles (2014, '16, and '18) with four 40-plus win seasons, a 54-win season in 2013-14 and compiling 263 total wins. The Head claimed the 2014 Eastern Conference crown, sending Miami to its third straight NBA Finals. The Heat missed out on a third straight NBA Title, falling to Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs (4-1).
In addition to his work as an assistant, Howard also served as the head coach of Miami's 2016 NBA Summer League teams in both Orlando and Las Vegas as well as Team Africa on the NBA's trip overseas for the 2018 NBA Africa Game.Â
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Prior to getting into coaching, Howard had an accomplished 19-year NBA career, which was capped off with back-to-back NBA titles (2012 & 2013) while playing with the Miami Heat and LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Overall, Howard played with eight difference franchises throughout his career: Washington Bullets/Wizards (six and a half seasons), Dallas Mavericks (two seasons), Denver Nuggets (two seasons), Orlando Magic (one season), Houston Rockets (three seasons), Charlotte Bobcats (half a season), Portland Trailblazers (one season) and Miami (three seasons).
The No. 5 overall pick in 1994 by the Washington Bullets, Howard closed his with 1,208 games and 900 starts during his 19 seasons. Averaging 13.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists throughout his career, he finished with 16,159 points and 7,428 rebounds while adding 2,663 assists. He was named to the 1995 NBA All-Rookie second team and was an All-NBA third team as well as an All-Star selection in 1996.
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As a member of the "Fab Five," Howard spent three seasons (1991-94) in Ann Arbor playing for head coach Steve Fisher. In what is considered the greatest Michigan and college basketball recruiting class of all time, Howard -- along with Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson -- were dubbed the "Fab Five" and helped change college basketball forever with their style, play and back-to-back Final Four and national title game appearances in 1992 and 1993.Â
A two-time All-American (1993, '94), Howard started 97 of his 100 collegiate games, missing just two games. A three-time All-Big Ten honoree, including a unanimous first-team selection in 1994, Howard was regarded as one of the best defensive big men in the country. In three NCAA Tournament appearances, he was named to two All-Tournament teams at the 1993 NCAA West Regional and the 1994 NCAA Midwest Regional.
Howard closed his U-M career with 1,526 points (15.3 ppg) and 745 rebounds (7.5 rpg), one of just eight Michigan players to reach both marks, along with Rudy Tomjanovich, Bill Buntin, Roy Tarpley, Glen Rice, LaVell Blanchard, DeShawn Sims and Hunter Dickinson. Howard ranks 20th all-time in scoring and 11th in rebounding for the Wolverines.
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Despite leaving Michigan early for the NBA Draft, Howard returned and earned his general studies degree from U-M's College of Literature, Science and the Arts in 1995. He walked at U-M graduation along with Fab Five teammates Jimmy King and Ray Jackson.
During his prep career, Howard was an All-American center and an honors student at Chicago Vocational High School. Named a Parade and USA Today All-American in 1991, he closed his senior season averaging 26.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He added McDonald's All-American accolades and played in the prep all-star game along with three of his future Michigan teammates -- Webber, Rose and King -- on the West squad.
Howard earned numerous prep accolades, including the Gatorade Circle of Champions' Illinois Player of the Year Award. He was twice named to the Class-AA All-State team, to All-Chicago Public School League first team as well as the Chicago Sun-Times All-Area team. Howard added inclusion into the National Honor Society and served as homecoming king.
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Howard and his wife, Jenine (Wardally), have two sons (Jace and Jett) together -- Jace, who is entering his senior year at U-M, and Jett, who played one season under his father and with his brother (2022-23), before electing for early entry in the 2023 NBA Draft. In addition to Jace and Jett, Howard has four other children -- two sons (Juwan Jr. and Joshua) and two daughters (Sky and Starr).Â
Juwan Jr. played collegiately at Western Michigan (2010-11) and Detroit Mercy (2012-15) finishing his career with 1,717 career points and All-Horizon League honors as a junior and senior. Joshua was a guard at Brown (2017-20), while Starr finished her lacrosse career as a graduate transfer at Clemson after playing four years at William & Mary.
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The Juwan Howard File
Born: Feb. 7, 1973
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
High School: Chicago Vocational High School, 1991
College:Â University of Michigan, 1995
Degree: General Studies
Wife: Jenine (Wardally)
Children (6): sons (4): Juwan Jr., Joshua, Jace and Jett; daughters (2): Sky and StarrÂ
Career Resume
| Years | Team | Position |
| 2013-14 | Miami Heat (NBA) | Assistant Coach/Player Development |
| 2014-19 | Miami Heat (NBA) | Assistant Coach |
| 2019-present  | University of Michigan (NCAA) | Head Coach |
Coaching Career Breakdown
| Year | Team | Overall  | Div./Conf.  | Tournament | Postseason |
| 2013-14Â Â | Miami (NBA) | 54-28 | 1st | -- | Eastern: Champions; NBA Finals |
| 2014-15 | Miami (NBA) | 37-45 | 3rd | -- | -- |
| 2015-16 | Miami (NBA) | 48-34 | 1st | -- | Eastern: Semifinal |
| 2016-17 | Miami (NBA) | 41-41 | 3rd | -- | -- |
| 2017-18 | Miami (NBA) | 44-38 | 1st | -- | Eastern: First Round |
| 2018-19 | Miami (NBA) | 39-43 | 3rd | -- | -- |
| 2019-20 | Michigan (NCAA)Â Â | 19-12 | 10-10 (9th) | canceled (COVID-19) | canceled (COVID-19) |
| 2020-21 | Michigan (NCAA) | 23-5 | 14-3 (1st) | BTT: Semifinal | NCAA: Elite Eight |
| 2021-22 | Michigan (NCAA) | 19-15 | 11-9 (8th) | BTT: Second Round | NCAA: Sweet 16 |
| 2022-23 | Michigan (NCAA) | 18-16 | 11-9 (t-5th) | BTT: Second Round | NIT: Second Round |
| 2023-24 | Michigan (NCAA) | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Coaching Career | 342-277 | 46-31 | 55.25% | 11 seasons | |
| College Career | 79-48 | 46-31 | 62.20% | 5 seasons | |
| NBA Career | 263-229 | 0-0 | 53.46% | 6 seasons |
Michigan | Postseason
• NCAA Tournament
   • First Round (2): 2021, '22
   • Second Round (2): 2021, '22
   • Sweet 16 (2): 2021, '22
   • Elite Eight (1): 2021
• Postseason NIT
   • First Round (1): 2023
   • Second Round (1): 2023
• Big Ten Tournament
   • First Round Byes (4): 2020#, '21, '22, '23
   • Double Bye (1): 2021
   • Second Round (2): 2022, '23
   • Quarterfinal (1): 2021
   • Semifinal (1): 2021
Michigan | Championships
• Big Ten Regular Season (1): 2021
• Battle 4 Atlantis (1): 2019
Michigan | Awards & Honors
   • USBWA | Henry Iba Award for National Coach of the Year (2021)
   • Associated Press | National Coach of the Year (2021)
   • Sporting News | National Coach of the Year (2021)
   • The Athletic | National Coach of the Year (2021)
  • Big Ten | Coach of the Year by the Coaches (2021)
   • Big Ten | Coach of the Year by the Media (2021)
   • Associated Press | Coach of the Year (2021)
  • NABC | District 7 Coach of the Year (2021)
   • USBWA | District V Coach of the Year (2021)
Michigan | NBA Draft
• Selections: First Round (1), Second Round (3)
  • Franz Wagner (2021; 1st (#8); Orlando Magic)
  • Isaiah Livers (2021; 2nd (#42); Detroit Pistons)
  • Caleb Houstan (2022: 2nd (#32); Orlando Magic)
  • Moussa Diabate' (2022: 2nd (#43); Los Angeles Clippers)
Miami Heat | Coaching Career
• Southeast Division (3): 2014, '16, '18
• NBA Playoffs (3): 2014, '16, '18
   • Eastern Conference Champions (1): 2014
   • NBA Finals (1): 2014 (L, San Antonio 4-1)
Highlights | Michigan Career
• Associated Press All-America third team (1994), NABC All-America second team (1994)
• All-Big Ten first team (1994), second team (1993), honorable mention (1992)
• Michigan captain (1993-94)
• Member of the Fab Five - Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson
• Played three seasons before opting for early entry into the NBA Draft (1994)
• Reached three straight NCAA Elite Eight's, two Final Fours and two national title games (1992 & 1993)
• U-M career: 100 games; 1,526 points, 745 rebounds; 19 double-doubles
• Became the 17th Wolverine to join 1,000 point/500 rebound club
• Posted three straight seasons of 200+ rebounds
• Career-best 34 points vs. Texas (March 19, 1994) in the NCAA Tournament
• Career-best 20 rebounds against Wisconsin (Feb. 10, 1993)
Highlights | NBA Career
• Played 19 seasons; franchises (8): Washington, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Houston, Charlotte, Portland and Miami
• No. 5 NBA Draft pick (1994, by the Washington Bullets)
• (2x) NBA Champion: Miami Heat
  • 2012: defeated OKC Thunder (4-1)
  • 2013: defeated San Antonio Spurs (4-3)
• All-NBA third team (1995-96)
• All-Star (1996)Â
• All-Rookie Team (1994-95)
• Games: 1,208
  • Points: 16,159 (13.4 ppg)
  • Rebounds: 7,428 (6.1 rpg)
  • Assists: 2,663 (2.2 apg)
  • Double-Doubles: 190
• Career-best 42 points against Toronto (April 19, 1996)
• Career-high 16 rebounds against Houston (Jan. 31, 2002)
# 2020 Big Ten Tournament was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
