Men's Basketball
Eisley, Howard
Howard Eisley
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- (734) 763-5504
Following a successful 21 years playing and coaching in the NBA, Howard Eisley returned to his native state of Michigan, joining Juwan Howard as an assistant coach with the University of Michigan basketball program.
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Eisley compiled an 87-72 record during his five seasons in Ann Arbor and was instrumental in helping the Wolverines to the 2021 Big Ten title and back-to-back Sweet 16s at the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Tournaments, which extended U-M's run with five straight second weekend trips.
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In 2021, U-M earned its second No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament as well as the third No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (East Regional). In fact, the Wolverines advanced to the program's 15th Elite Eight in 2021 before falling to UCLA (51-49) for the last spot in the Final Four. In 2023, U-M earned an NIT bid and advanced to the second round.
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In Big Ten play, U-M has racked up 10-plus wins in four of five seasons with assistance of Eisley on the bench. Navigating Covid-19 for nearly three seasons, the Wolverines claimed the program's 15th Big Ten title with 14 wins during the 2020-01 campaign. Adding in those four 10-plus win seasons, U-M has extended its streak to nine straight with double-digit wins in league play.
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Eisley has served as a mentor and coach to several Wolverines guards during his time, who have gone on to earn All-Big Ten honors and was well as start professional careers -- Eli Brooks (2022 All-Big Ten, G-League), Kobe Bufkin (2023 All-Big Ten, NBA), Jett Howard (2023 All-Big Ten, NBA) as well as overseas professionals DeVante' Jones (France) and Mike Smith (Poland).
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Prior to moving to the NCAA ranks, Eisley had a 12-year NBA playing career before transitioning to coaching. For nearly a decade he moved up the coaching ranks in the NBA, serving as a player development assistant for four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers (2011-14) before moving on to the Washington Wizards (2014-16) as an assistant coach. Before heading to Ann Arbor, he was an assistant with the New York Knicks (2016-19) for three seasons.
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During his coaching career, he was part of three playoff appearances with the Clippers advancing to the Western Conference semifinals twice (2012 & 2014). In his first season with the Wizards he added a fourth playoff appearance making the Eastern Conference semifinal. Eisley compiled over 400 NBA wins (428) during his nine seasons, including a 57 win season with the Clippers in 2013-14.
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As a player, he was chosen with the 30th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the 1994 NBA Draft. Eisley played 12 NBA seasons, with stops with eight different franchises -- Minnesota Timberwolves (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1995), Utah Jazz (1996-2000), Dallas Mavericks (2000-01), New York Knicks (2002-03), Phoenix Suns (2003-04), Los Angeles Clippers (2005-06) and Denver Nuggets (2006).
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Playing in 786 NBA games, he recorded 5,116 points, 2,748 assists, 540 steals and 516 three-point field goals. He recorded NBA career bests with 30 points at Memphis (Jan. 31, 2003) with a career-best 12 field goals, 10 rebounds at Washington (March 18, 1999) and 14 assists at New Orleans (Nov. 22, 2002). He added a career-best six steals against his hometown team, the Detroit Pistons (March 21, 2003).
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He highlighted his career playing five seasons with the Utah Jazz where he played and developed behind Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton, and was part of back-to-back Western Conference titles (1997 & 1998). In the two NBA Finals, the Jazz fell twice to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, 4-2, in both seasons. Eisley was the Jazz's nominee for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
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Prior to his collegiate career, Eisley was a prep standout at Detroit's Southwestern High School, where he was teammates with future NBA players Jalen Rose and Voshon Lenard. Moving on to Boston College, Eisley started all 126 games of his collegiate career (t-8th all-time), scoring 1,628 points (12.9 ppg), which ranks 15th all-time. A four-year starter at Boston College (1991-94), Eisley helped guide the Eagles to the 1994 NCAA East Regional Final, where he earned all-regional tournament honors. He added All-Big East second team honors as a junior (1993) and senior (1994).
He holds the Boston College record with a career three-point field goal percentage (44.7 percent) after making 197 (5th all-time) long range baskets. In fact his 91 makes in the 1993-94 season ranks as the fourth most in a single season with the Eagles. In addition to his shooting, Eisley led BC in assists four straight years and ranks fourth all-time with 544 (4.3 apg). He is also fifth all-time in steals (195). Eisley graduated with a degree in communications in 1994 before heading to the NBA Draft.
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Eisley and his wife, Tai, have two children, Kennedi, a recent graduate of Boston College (2023) on the Dean's List and Howard, Jr., who is a junior in high school and budding prep guard. An entrepreneur, Tai is the owner and president of Maison by Tai, which sells home fashion products.
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Eisley compiled an 87-72 record during his five seasons in Ann Arbor and was instrumental in helping the Wolverines to the 2021 Big Ten title and back-to-back Sweet 16s at the 2021 and 2022 NCAA Tournaments, which extended U-M's run with five straight second weekend trips.
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In 2021, U-M earned its second No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament as well as the third No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament (East Regional). In fact, the Wolverines advanced to the program's 15th Elite Eight in 2021 before falling to UCLA (51-49) for the last spot in the Final Four. In 2023, U-M earned an NIT bid and advanced to the second round.
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In Big Ten play, U-M has racked up 10-plus wins in four of five seasons with assistance of Eisley on the bench. Navigating Covid-19 for nearly three seasons, the Wolverines claimed the program's 15th Big Ten title with 14 wins during the 2020-01 campaign. Adding in those four 10-plus win seasons, U-M has extended its streak to nine straight with double-digit wins in league play.
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Eisley has served as a mentor and coach to several Wolverines guards during his time, who have gone on to earn All-Big Ten honors and was well as start professional careers -- Eli Brooks (2022 All-Big Ten, G-League), Kobe Bufkin (2023 All-Big Ten, NBA), Jett Howard (2023 All-Big Ten, NBA) as well as overseas professionals DeVante' Jones (France) and Mike Smith (Poland).
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Prior to moving to the NCAA ranks, Eisley had a 12-year NBA playing career before transitioning to coaching. For nearly a decade he moved up the coaching ranks in the NBA, serving as a player development assistant for four seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers (2011-14) before moving on to the Washington Wizards (2014-16) as an assistant coach. Before heading to Ann Arbor, he was an assistant with the New York Knicks (2016-19) for three seasons.
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During his coaching career, he was part of three playoff appearances with the Clippers advancing to the Western Conference semifinals twice (2012 & 2014). In his first season with the Wizards he added a fourth playoff appearance making the Eastern Conference semifinal. Eisley compiled over 400 NBA wins (428) during his nine seasons, including a 57 win season with the Clippers in 2013-14.
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As a player, he was chosen with the 30th overall selection by the Minnesota Timberwolves at the 1994 NBA Draft. Eisley played 12 NBA seasons, with stops with eight different franchises -- Minnesota Timberwolves (1994-95), San Antonio Spurs (1995), Utah Jazz (1996-2000), Dallas Mavericks (2000-01), New York Knicks (2002-03), Phoenix Suns (2003-04), Los Angeles Clippers (2005-06) and Denver Nuggets (2006).
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Playing in 786 NBA games, he recorded 5,116 points, 2,748 assists, 540 steals and 516 three-point field goals. He recorded NBA career bests with 30 points at Memphis (Jan. 31, 2003) with a career-best 12 field goals, 10 rebounds at Washington (March 18, 1999) and 14 assists at New Orleans (Nov. 22, 2002). He added a career-best six steals against his hometown team, the Detroit Pistons (March 21, 2003).
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He highlighted his career playing five seasons with the Utah Jazz where he played and developed behind Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton, and was part of back-to-back Western Conference titles (1997 & 1998). In the two NBA Finals, the Jazz fell twice to Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls, 4-2, in both seasons. Eisley was the Jazz's nominee for the 1997-98 and 1998-99 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
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Prior to his collegiate career, Eisley was a prep standout at Detroit's Southwestern High School, where he was teammates with future NBA players Jalen Rose and Voshon Lenard. Moving on to Boston College, Eisley started all 126 games of his collegiate career (t-8th all-time), scoring 1,628 points (12.9 ppg), which ranks 15th all-time. A four-year starter at Boston College (1991-94), Eisley helped guide the Eagles to the 1994 NCAA East Regional Final, where he earned all-regional tournament honors. He added All-Big East second team honors as a junior (1993) and senior (1994).
He holds the Boston College record with a career three-point field goal percentage (44.7 percent) after making 197 (5th all-time) long range baskets. In fact his 91 makes in the 1993-94 season ranks as the fourth most in a single season with the Eagles. In addition to his shooting, Eisley led BC in assists four straight years and ranks fourth all-time with 544 (4.3 apg). He is also fifth all-time in steals (195). Eisley graduated with a degree in communications in 1994 before heading to the NBA Draft.
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Eisley and his wife, Tai, have two children, Kennedi, a recent graduate of Boston College (2023) on the Dean's List and Howard, Jr., who is a junior in high school and budding prep guard. An entrepreneur, Tai is the owner and president of Maison by Tai, which sells home fashion products.
The Howard Eisley File
Born: December 4, 1972
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
High School: Southwestern (Detroit, Mich.), 1990
College: Boston College, 1994
Degree: Communications
Wife: Tiyesh (Tai)
Children (2): Kennedi and Howard, Jr.
Career Resume
| Years | School | Position |
| 2010-14 | L.A. Clippers (NBA)Â | Player Development Assistant |
| 2014-16 | Washington Wizards (NBA) | Assistant Coach |
| 2016-19 | New York Knicks (NBA) | Assistant Coach |
| 2019-present  | University of Michigan (NCAA) | Assistant Coach |
Coaching Career Breakdown
| Year | Team/School | Record | Conference  | Finish  | Tournament  | Postseason |
| 2010-11Â Â | Los Angeles (NBA)Â Â | 32-50 | -- | 4th | -- | -- |
| 2011-12 | Los Angeles (NBA) | 40-26 | -- | 2nd | -- | Western Semifinal |
| 2012-13 | Los Angeles (NBA) | 56-26 | -- | 1st | -- | Western First Round |
| 2013-14 | Los Angeles (NBA) | 57-25 | -- | 1st | -- | Western Semifinal |
| 2014-15 | Washington (NBA) | 46-36 | -- | 2nd | -- | Eastern Semifinal |
| 2015-16 | Washington (NBA) | 41-41 | -- | 4th | -- | -- |
| 2016-17 | New York (NBA) | 31-51 | -- | 3rd | -- | -- |
| 2017-18Â | New York (NBA) | 29-53 | -- | 4th | -- | -- |
| 2018-19 | New York (NBA) | 17-65 | -- | 5th | -- | -- |
| 2019-20 | Michigan (NCAA) | 19-12 | 10-10 | 9th | canceled (covid-19) | canceled (covid-19)Â |
| 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) | 8-24 | 3-17 | 14th | BTT: First Round | -- |
Career Record
| Years | School | Overall  | Conference  | Seasons |
| 2010-14 | L.A. Clippers (NBA)Â Â | 185-127 | -- | 4 |
| 2014-16 | Washington Wizards (NBA)Â | 87-77 | -- | 2 |
| 2016-19 | New York Knicks (NBA) | 77-169 | -- | 3 |
| 2019-present  | Michigan (NCAA) | 87-72 | 49-48 | 5 |
| NBA Career | 349-373 | 9 | ||
| Collegiate Career | 87-72 | 49-48 | 5 | |
| Coaching Career | 436-445 | 49-48 | 14 |
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