Former Michigan basketball strength coach hired by arch rival

Michigan basketball fans were despondent when legendary strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson announced he was leaving the program. But Thursday, another gut punch came as Sanderson announced his next destination.

There were rumors about him going to Ohio State. Yet, the Buckeyes don’t have a head coach. However, another fierce rival of Michigan basketball, Illinois, announced that the Fighting Illini have hired the man partially responsible for sending a bunch of Wolverines to the NBA.

Legendary strength coach Jon Sanderson leaves Michigan for Illinois

You knew that Sanderson was going to wind up somewhere. I was hoping it wouldn’t be in the Big Ten. Maybe it’s a good thing that it’s not Columbus, but let’s be real, the idea of Illinois with Sanderson developing their players is downright scary.

Excited to have Jon Sanderson assisting our program as sports performance consultant.

We will utilize Jon’s industry expertise – which includes three Final Fours and developing 30 NBA players during his career – through conversations and meetings with our current staff to… pic.twitter.com/jipBqwAjRC

— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) March 14, 2024

Sanderson was part of two Michigan basketball teams that went to the Final Four, in addition to coaching 30 NBA players throughout his career.

Yet, there was an altercation this season between Howard and Sanderson. Jace Howard was being “disrespectful” in Sanderson’s view to another trainer. He called out Jace and Juwan took issue with it. Juwan was restrained from fighting Sanderson by players, according to what Sanderson told Michgan AD Warde Manuel.

Sanderson was viewed as a key hire by Juwan, when Howard replaced John Beilein, and his departure, is a sign to many that Michigan basketball needs a head-coaching change. Manuel told reporters a decision on Howard would come “in relatively short order” but it’s hard to know which way the winds are blowing.

This is a bad look though and now, Michigan will have to watch its former assistant boost a top rival on the basketball floor, making it even harder for the Wolverines to beat a program that has owned U-M, at least under Juwan, who winless versus the Illini.

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