The negative fans are always louder. Makes it hard to get an accurate read. I do remember a lot grumbling about how he wouldn’t recruit Detroit.
4 Likes
I think the college hoops junkies among UM fans understood why he was a good hire. The broader fan base was generally less than enthusiastic, as I recall. I also remember the hire being criticized by local sports radio personalities who, as Dylan referred to, questioned his ability to recruit Detroit in particular.
3 Likes
Just an FYI, John Mahoney is no longer at IMG. He resigned just before the season started this season. He was the head of the post grad program and their did not play any of local HS around Florida.
IIRC, the complaints that JB wouldn’t recruit Detroit pretty much quieted down after he retained Mike Jackson. Which shows that you should probably wait to see how a new coach fills out his staff before criticizing too much…
Interesting, I thought most thought it was a great move. I don’t live in those parts nor was I on any fan message boards so maybe my perception was wrong.
A friend of mine is related to Kevin Stallings and promised me tickets if he got the job. I still preferred Beilein.
5 Likes
Taking one for the team!
My biggest concern with Juwan hasn’t really been touched on by many folk - he’s clearly got his eyes on an NBA coaching gig. Now, let’s say he does get the job offer - maybe around 3.3 mill, 4-5 years - something along the standard contract. Has a decent (but underwhelming) 1st year due to personnel/player losses, recruits well, gets some high ranked recruits in his 2nd and 3rd year, runs one of those years to a second week tourney run…he’s going to have some NBA people look his way. I know Warde will be discussing commitment and whatnot at the interview, but I can’t help but think we’ll be doing this again in a few years if we have a modicum of success. And maybe Juwan falls in love with the college game, but I can’t help but think those NBA jobs will be pretty enticing.
(Conversely, we could be doing this again in the same amount of time if the team takes a dump in the next couple years, but I’m trying to look on the positive side).
2 Likes
What if Shaka comes in and turns us into a perennial bubble team and we’re stuck in pergatory for the next decade?
There’s risk to anything, let’s succeed or fail fast
3 Likes
I would gladly run the risk of Juwan being “too successful” and running to the NBA is 3-4yrs. Another 3-4yrs would buy more time for the Beilein tree branches to either wither or succeed — like LaVall and Patrick.
5 Likes
Not jealous of wardes decision
He’s paid a lot of $$$ to make these decisions, though
2 Likes
Lots of things are possible. For example, Michigan could be Juwan’s dream job, not the NBA. He just didn’t expect to get a shot at this soon. Or he decides he loves coaching here. He can be treated like a star in the way he wouldn’t be in the NBA.
His sons will be entering college in the next few years. Maybe one or both come here to play for him. If he’s doing well, Michigan will extend his contract with a raise designed to keep him. Whenever you hire an alum, there’s the real possibility he will be reluctant to leave for another job.
1 Like
I think beanman’s concern is valid, and also think Oberon’s approach is good. I’d be much more open to Smart if I knew the school would seek an upgrade if necessary. I don’t know about everyone else but I figured that if Beilein had retired here, giving us another 5 years or so, that’s enough cracks at it to come away national champion. I don’t know that Michigan will ever be a perennial power, but it was in an era that could have brought a ring, and I’m having a hard time letting go of that. So I guess I’m minded to gamble on greatness, and, with Howard specifically, my guess is that his ability to get back on the NBA ladder if it wasn’t working for him would make it less likely that a bad-in-hindsight hire sticks around too long.
1 Like
That is a risk for any successful coaches, we all thought JB would’ve retired at M
1 Like
My biggest questions about Juwan (or really any candidate not in the college game) isn’t X&Os or recruiting, it’s the other aspects of the job…how will he handle academics (both admissions and player classroom responsibilities) and how comfortable will be with the alumni club banquets/HS coaching clinics/radio show/dog-and-pony requirements.
1 Like
Reportedly his soft skills are impressive. But people say stuff, and in the end I really have no idea how to evaluate it. There seem to be more ``gonna be a head coach someday" NBA assistants than there are ones who actually get there.
1 Like
Juwan has been tied to three NBA jobs this year:
-
The Lakers where he was clearly the fourth choice of four interviewed candidates (they publicly chose between Lue and Williams, missed Williams, lost Lue, offered Vogel)
-
The Cavs, where most NBA reporters feel that the public interviews were actually interviews to fill Beilein’s staff
-
The TWolves, who are conducting a Potemkin search because they need to legitimize Ryan Saunders and not just give him the job.
None of that is to say he’s a bad coach, but it is to say he’s getting jerked around, probably isn’t as close as we make it, and may be totally cool with going college route.
3 Likes
Yes. Juwan was never the top candidate for the jobs that he interviewed including the Knicks last year. But I doubt that he would agree to interview Cleveland as an assistant or any team as an assistant.
So I’ll ask again, since you dodged the question the first time. If he’s such an elite recruiter, why have his teams at Texas been so mediocre? What does that tell you about him as a coach? And BTW, you lose all credibility if you say “he’s just unlucky”.