Juwan Howard fired as Michigan basketball head coach

Two days after the end of the 2023-24 Michigan basketball season, the Wolverines will start the search for a new head coach according to a statement released by Warde Manuel.

It’s something that Michigan basketball fans saw coming, especially following a report on Friday by The Athletic that accused the Wolverines of having an “abhorrent culture” among other things.

BREAKING NEWS: U-M Director of Athletics Warde Manuel has announced that a leadership change would be made in basketball with Juwan Howard not returning next season.

Release | https://t.co/N2QU7adNM3#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/yxDIAgkgfk

— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) March 15, 2024

Michigan basketball needed to make a change

Beyond that, the results on the floor necessitated a change. Michigan basketball went 8-24 this season and set a program record for losses. The Wolverines started 3-0 and finished the campaign 5-24. They won two of their last 21 games and most of the losses were by double digits.

It’s a sad end to the Juwan Howard era. As a lifelong Michigan basketball fan, this brings me zero joy. I wanted him to be successful and he did have some success early — winning a Big Ten title, as well as five NCAA tournament games. However, the program has been on a downward trend. Missing the NCAA tournament last season with an All-American center and two first-round picks.

The Wolverines have lost 15 games or more in three straight seasons. They lost at least 12 games in four of Juwan Howard’s five seasons. That doesn’t meet the standard set by John Beilein and because things were allowed to get so bad, Michigan basketball has a steep climb to get back where it was.

The first step was taken on Friday and it was needed.

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