Howard Sits Down to Discuss Those Who Guided Him, Those He Now Guides
5/30/2019 11:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Features
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• Juwan Howard Central
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Juwan Howard came home and knew it would be emotional. He told himself he wouldn't cry, but he did. That was OK, though. It showed those attending and watching the live broadcast of the press conference announcing him as the new basketball coach at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, just how much coming back meant to him.
Howard, a towering, 6-foot-9 center and power forward who spent 19 seasons starring in the NBA and winning two championships before six seasons coaching for the Miami Heat, walked from the locker room at Crisler Center past his new players, former Wolverines, his wife, Jenine, sons and numerous family and friends to the dais near center court.
And he was instantly overcome. Howard also saw the face of the grandmother, Jannie Mae Howard, who raised him and died of a massive heart attack hours after he signed his national letter of intent to attend Michigan at his high school, Chicago Vocational. And he thought of Steve Fisher, the Wolverine coach who recently retired after moving on to San Diego State, and became a father to him. Others who made a big difference in his life also raced through his mind.
"Wow -- tears of joy," Howard told everyone after briefly turning away to compose himself while those around him cheered loudly in a show of support. "I'm back -- back to help continue this Michigan tradition and this beautiful culture that has been instilled here before me and, whenever that day comes, after me."
There really was no need for Howard, 46, to explain why this position -- the only college job he said he would ever take -- meant so very much to him. The tears streaming down his cheeks, smile of gratitude and beaming pride were something to see -- something to embrace for those wondering if a man who has never been a head coach was the right choice to replace John Beilein.
Belein became the winningest coach in Michigan history and took the Wolverines to two Final Fours before becoming coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Howard knows he has big shoes to fill, and said he's spoken with Beilein about the challenge ahead.
I asked Howard at Thursday's (May 30) press conference if he'd ever envisioned -- on the day he played his final game at Crisler -- that he might someday come back to coach the Wolverines.
"The last time I walked off the Crisler Arena court -- and at the time it was called Crisler Arena, now it's called Crisler Center -- I never looked back and thought I would become the basketball coach of the University of Michigan. Honestly, I didn't like coaching. I didn't want to be a coach. But I always was a coach on the floor.
"And so, the passion I have for this game, playing 19 years in the NBA, I grew to embrace teaching. … So, in my 17th year in the NBA, I got the itch. 'You know what? Coaching is my calling.' Relationships got built in the NBA, people I've impacted, those that have impacted me, those that inspired me, said, 'You know what? You'll be a great coach someday.' And I listened.
"Now, I come back to coach my alma mater, and I'm so proud to have an opportunity to embrace this moment and lead some young men, not just on the court, but off the court. It's a special day -- a special day for me and my family. So proud."
When more than two hours of press conferences, interviews and receptions were completed, Howard returned to the studios inside Crisler Center to do a live spot with the Big Ten Network and talk one-on-one with me for the first time in 25 years.
Howard ended his college career with an Elite Eight loss to eventual national champion Arkansas in a game attended in Dallas by president Bill Clinton, who sat courtside with his family and ate more popcorn than is imaginable that day at Reunion Arena. I was the national college basketball writer for the Detroit Free Press then, back in 1994, and Howard was wearing his iconic No. 25 -- which Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel flashed again at the press conference -- in a game for the last time.
My youngest son, Brad, was in elementary school in Ann Arbor at the time and Howard was his favorite. We bought him a maize No. 25, which he still wears at his home in California while watching big Wolverine basketball and football games, and has finally grown into the jersey that used to reach his ankles. Â
Brad was drawn to Howard because he was a great leader who worked hard at fundamentals and was "a favorite teammate-type" who made the game better. Brad connects with his old friends during NCAA Tournaments with #juwanhowardforlife, and when I mentioned all of this to Howard he was genuinely touched.
"Aww, that's awesome," said Howard. "Tell him I said hello. That's beautiful."
Cheering from the heart is important to Juwan because that is what he has done his entire life. He's loyal, passionate and solid to the core. He can be your player for life, and now your coach for life.
It was a joy getting reacquainted, and here's how our conversation went:Â
Q. When you mentioned that you recruited Jimmy King to the 'Fab Five,' Jimmy said, 'You recruited us all.' It's well-documented that you were the first to sign with Coach Fisher on Nov. 12, 1990, and that you then set about getting Jimmy, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose and Ray Jackson to join you here.
But why was it that you chose Michigan?
A. I had tons of top schools that recruited me, but there was something special about Michigan. And the big reason was Steve Fisher and (assistant coach) Brian Dutcher. They were sharing their vision and teaching me about the Michigan tradition, how prestigious this school is from an academic standpoint. And I did my homework. I knew Michigan was a top university in the country.
But I remembered Michigan playing Illinois back in 1989 and I saw that run they went on (to win the NCAA championship). Steve Fisher was a major part of that. So, when he came to my house (on the South Side of Chicago) to recruit, my grandmother just connected with him right away. She felt how genuine they were.
She also thought the staff was real honest and wouldn't promise you anything. She loved to hear the word 'family' and they were all about family. So, when I visited Michigan in September of 1990, I felt the itch. I walked out to the football game in Michigan Stadium and I saw all those people, 105,000 fans from all around, and I got a chance to feel that itch. I could imagine myself here -- obviously not playing football but I saw the love and passion everyone had for the school. I'm like, 'This is what I want to be a part of.'
We went to dinner after the game with the staff and met some of the players. I recall meeting a guy named Sam Mitchell as well as a guard, Demetrius Calip, who came to dinner and started sharing with me about Michigan, the school and the tradition, and how Michigan had been a great experience for him. I was sold after that. That was it! I haven't looked back since.
Q. Did Dutcher really spend 28 consecutive days in Chicago recruiting you?
A. He was there. I saw Dutch every day! But it wasn't just the fact that he was there. He made me feel like he really cared. He is a good man, and we have a great relationship to this day.
Q. How did Coach Fisher impact you?
A. He taught me accountability. He held me accountable not just on the court, but off the court, making sure that even if we came home from a road game at Iowa and landed at 1 in the morning, making sure I was at a class at 8 in the morning. If he wasn't there, he would make sure one of his staff members or teammates was there to make sure I was in class.
That meant so much. It wasn't just about the wins and losses. He wanted to see me and my teammates be successful men when we left the school, whenever that time came. He never once pressured us stay or leave. He helped us make the right decisions for our futures and he taught me a lot about being patient and working through my mistakes.
From left: Jimmy King, Howard, Antoine Joubert.
Q. You left after your junior season, having reached the Final Four and championship game the first two seasons, and became the fifth overall pick in the first round by the Washington Bullets, but still got your degree on time. You said at the press conference that getting it is your No. 1 accomplishment, with being hired as Michigan's coach No. 2. How did you manage that?
A. (Laughter) It's a funny story. I was 32 (academic) hours short. But I always took classes in spring sessions to make sure I had extra courses to prepare myself to graduate on time. So, when I left after my junior year, I explained to people in the athletic department that I wanted to figure out a game plan to get my degree. Bob Clifford was the academic counselor, and he said, 'There's a way you can do it this year.'
I thought he was crazy. I'm going to the NBA and here's a dream come true. I know it has an 82-game schedule and I didn't know if I could do it. But I had some extensions on correspondence courses that I never used. I just applied myself during the season. We didn't have email then. So, the work was Fed Exed to me, I did it, and Fed Exed it back. We also faxed my work to and from.
While I was on a plane during the season, on different road trips, guys were next to me playing video games or cards. Some guys were sleeping. I'd be over to the side doing homework with my light on. I used that time to do my school work and also did some at home.
There was a guy named Doug Overton, Calbert Cheaney, who went to Indiana, and Mitchell Butler, who went to UCLA. They were playing cards and one time walked back, and they said, 'What are you doing, writing rap songs?' I told them I was doing my schoolwork and they were impressed by it. That helped me get through the process, and how I was able to get my degree with discipline. I was determined not to put it off for even one year and got it in 1995. So, it was like I never left, and I graduated with my class.
Q. That sends a great message to the guys you're coaching now.
A. Oh, I'm going to use that in recruiting (deep and prolonged laughter).
Q. What did it mean to you when Coach Beilein, a long-time good friend of Coach Fisher, saw to it that Steve and his wife, Angie, were invited back for the 30th anniversary of that championship team back in February?
A. It meant more to me to see that Coach Beilein so respected what Coach Fisher had done to help this program. Knowing that was Coach Fisher's first time back on campus (after departing in 1997), that meant a lot about the quality of person Coach Beilein really is, and how open-minded he is about people who paved the way for him. Â
Q. You were a player development coach, working on team defense and the big men for Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. Have you made any decisions on what your coaching role will be in practices and otherwise?
A. My role is I'm a player development coach, and I am going to be on the court. If I've got to help with the big guy, I'll be there helping with the big guy. If we need another extra defender out there on the court when we're going through our pick-and-roll offense or defense, I will jump out there and be one of the defenders or an extra ball-handler. There is no job that's beneath me. Whatever it takes to get the guy to buy in, I'm more than ready to help them learn and understand what's being taught. I'm going to be that guy helping to make that possible.
Teske (center) chats with Coach Howard
Q. Not to single out any players, but Jon Teske (7-foot-1 senior) is the starting center and (6-foot-11 rising sophomore) Colin Castleton was playing behind him late in the season. Have you had a chance to look at them yet?
A. Yes, I've watched them from last season. I think Jon Teske is an underrated big guy who, from an offensive standpoint, really can score the ball to the basket. I'd really like to utilize his skill set and use him more in the offense. He's also a really good shooter from the outside. To my understanding, they tried to encourage him to shoot more threes. He's proven he can make them.
Castleton is basically a guy who is still raw, learning and still growing, getting stronger, and the two of them playing against one another in practice is going help develop Castleton to become a better basketball player because he has a lot of potential. He may have more the appearance of a surfer or someone like that, but that kid can play basketball. He's a rim protector and super competitive. Â
Q. Can you put into words the experience you've had today. You walked past your new players, closest family members, a former teammate in Jimmy King, and you get up there and had all that emotion.
A. That emotion, ahhh! It was surreal. This is a dream come true. It's a big schedule, with a lot of things happening, a lot of moving parts. But I will take time today to lay back and think about everything and just take it all in.
I'm going to cherish this day. This is a special day for me and my family. I want to make sure I never forget this day and be humbled by this experience, too.
Q. Your grandmother, whose name, Jannie Mae, you had tattooed over your heart, means everything to you. I understand you had that done one year around her birthday, which is Christmas Day.
A. I had that done after my freshman year in college.
Q. You probably still talk to her -- because that's what we do with people we love deeply who are no longer here. What are you hearing from her today?
A. (Laughter) Oh, wow. I have a nickname that she gave me that hasn't left me at all. Everyone, when I go back home to Chicago, still calls me 'Nookie.' So, I know she's saying, 'Nookie, I'm so damn proud of you. And I'm just so tickled with the fact that all the hard work you put in, everything in life that you've been through that you've experienced thus far, now a lot has come to fruition.'
This has been a dream of mine, and I'm a person who enjoys working with kids, always been a giving individual. I call it being a server. Now, I have an opportunity to serve again. The last six years, I've been serving on the professional level. Now I'm coming back to the collegiate level, and I'll get a chance to impact a lot of these young men. Hopefully, when I'm giving them back to their mother, dad or whoever their legal guardian is, I'm giving them back a man.
RT if you are ready for The Juwan Howard Era… ??#GoBlue x #WelcomeHomeJuwan ???? pic.twitter.com/E932UAqXQW
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) May 22, 2019
Nookie is ready to mold men, having had tremendous teachers.
He's also eager to someday win the NCAA title that his Fab Five came within one win of claiming twice in 1992 and 1993, and might even break out that Cabbage Patch dance, arms swaying out front as he laughs. He danced it when the freshmen Fabs upset Ohio State in the 1992 Elite Eight and after the Heat won the 2012 NBA championship.
Juwan said that with all the hard work ahead, he also wants his teams to have "fun" playing the game that has been his vehicle to special things. It got him to Ann Arbor as an All-American player, and returns him now to lead the Wolverines.
Nookie couldn't be happier, and he's so glad he scratched that "itch" to return to Michigan. When he feels that "itch," there's no stopping him.
