Defend the Block: Smith Talks Howard’s Growth from Player to Head Coach at U-M
5/26/2021 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Features
In this week's edition of the "Defend the Block" podcast, Brian Boesch catches up with Jay Smith, the director of player personnel and development for Michigan men's basketball, about the unique challenges of the last year, the development of Juwan Howard from incoming Wolverine player to current Wolverines head coach, the importance of continuity among players and staff members, his impressions of some of the returning and incoming players, and his emotions surrounding the Fab Five's presence around the program.
By Brian Boesch
Late in the spring of 2019, Jay Smith was locked in on the news surrounding Michigan men's basketball and its head coach opening. After all, Smith kept tabs on the Wolverines after his seven-season stint as an assistant coach from 1989-96. Then, Smith learned that Juwan Howard, one of his former players during that successful stretch, earned the position, prompting a conversation between the two.
Howard called Smith while the latter was on his way to speak at a funeral service. The two caught up and shared in the good news of Howard returning to his alma mater to become the head coach. Then, Howard revealed the most important part of the phone call.
"We talked for probably 20-30 minutes, just about him being at Michigan, and at the end of the conversation, he goes, 'Well, what about joining my staff'," Smith said on this week's edition of the "Defend the Block" podcast.
"I felt like saying, 'Why didn't you say that at the start'?"
Shortly after the memorial service and a conversation with his wife, Smith accepted the offer, and Howard brought him to Ann Arbor as the program's director of player personnel and development. While the title is lengthy, Smith's responsibilities are simple -- to help and serve the players, something he did for Howard when he arrived at Michigan.
"Being back with Juwan is special, just because you kind of watched him grow into the person he is," Smith said. "I think I saw it from the grassroots when he first came in here as a young, fighting, South Side Chicago player that had a tremendous work ethic."
Howard's work ethic has not wavered. Smith saw it up close in the early 1990s and from afar as Howard shined in the NBA, both as an All-Star player and a quick-rising assistant coach. Since their reunion in Ann Arbor began, that work ethic still jumps off the page when Smith sees it in action.
"The way he works -- it's real. It's hard," Smith said. "There are some people that can't go from the NBA to a college job. He's definitely one that can. He has that same work ethic he brought to the court."
Work ethic and passion can get you far, but college coaches must supplement that with the ability to connect and teach. Smith raves about Howard's ability to do that, thanks to a relationship-based approach with each of his players.
"He's so hands-on and honest, and he builds that relationship where he can coach you hard, because he has a solid foundation and relationship built over the course of time," Smith said. "Our players really believe in him, and they believe in our staff, and it's special. It really is. It doesn't come around like this all the time.
"That's why teachers teach. You watch somebody grow into the person they become."
Smith has had a front-row seat to watch Howard become the head coach at the University of Michigan, and now they both have the chance to teach the next wave of great Wolverines to come through the men's basketball program.
