Michigan hires Heat assistant Juwan Howard as head coach

Kirstie Chiappelli

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Michigan hires Heat assistant Juwan Howard as head coach image

Michigan basketball has found its man in Miami.

Heat assistant Juwan Howard has agreed to a five-year deal to become the Wolverines' head coach.

The news comes after the school interviewed Howard for the job on Tuesday. Michigan's search was rumored to have included Providence coach Ed Cooley, Texas coach Shaka Smart and Texas Tech coach Chris Beard, in addition to NBA coaches Billy Donovan and Brad Stevens. Michigan assistants Luke Yaklich and Saddi Washington were also considered.

Howard, 46, was selected by the Washington Bullets out of Michigan with the No. 5 overall pick of the 1994 draft and went on to have stints with eight different teams, including the Heat from 2010-13. Following his retirement in at the end of his tenure in Miami, the team hired him as an assistant coach.

Howard has the support of two of his former "Fab Five" teammates and NBA analysts in Jalen Rose and Chris Webber, with Rose supporting him publicly on his show "Jalen and Jacoby" this week.

"I need for this to happen, OK?" Rose said. "This ain’t just some nostalgic, ‘Oh, he was a member of the Fab Five, so let’s give him the job.’ He was a terrific high school player, a McDonald’s All-American. He was a terrific performer at Michigan, a member of the Fab Five."

He continued: "He was an All-Star in the NBA, he was a champion. He’s not only learned under some of the best to do it, Erik Spoelstra, Pat Riley. He also has the blessing of John Beilein, who he spent a lot of time with. Of Steve Fisher, who he spent a lot of time with. … This is such a layup."

Howard also received ringing endorsements from Dwyane Wade and LeBron James on Twitter.

"My guy deserves this opportunity. This will only be right," Wade tweeted Tuesday.

James added: "Absolutely the right choice and i hope it becomes a done deal ASAP!!"

Kirstie Chiappelli