Legendary strength coach officially leaves Michigan basketball

Jon Sanderson and the University of Michigan have parted ways, meaning the Michigan basketball strength coach is officially out.

Michigan basketball has mutually agreed to part ways with its long-time strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson according to The Athletic.

The University has also scrubbed the profile of Sanderson from its coaching directory. The link now takes you to a blank profile.

According to a report from the Athletic’s Katie Strang and Brendan Quinn, Sanderson resigned from his position with the Michigan basketball program following a settlement with the university.

Sanderson hasn’t been around the Wolverines since an altercation with head coach Juwan Howard. Reports claimed that two men had a shouting match that nearly turned physical.

Soon after that altercation, which was forwarded to the Human Resources Department for investigation, athletic director Warde Manuel reaffirmed Howard as the head coach following his absence, which was due to heart surgery.

Sanderson was a holdover from the previous head coach, John Beilein, and he was known for his ability to develop players in the weight room.

Losing Coach Sanderson is a huge loss for Michigan basketball

The offseason workouts were known as “Camp Sanderson” and he was essential in the development of guys like Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert who came to Michigan as lowly recruited players but wound up as first-round picks.

It’s a huge loss for Michigan basketball moving forward and another sign that maybe the Wolverines need a new head coach. In an email to Manuel, Sanderson didn’t paint a flattering picture of Howard, claiming that Juwan pursued a fight and had to be “restrained” by players:

“He kept aggressively pursuing me to fight, as the players and staff were doing their best to restrain him. He was out of control, it was an ugly scene. I had no choice but to stand my ground, I didn’t back down. A few of the players and staff got in front of me as well in an effort to keep us separated,” Sanderson wrote.

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