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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — You’ve certainly heard it, you might have even been one to do it: those who have doubted Michigan head coach Juwan Howard, from the time of his hiring, even now as the Wolverines basketball program sits at No. 3 in the nation.
When Warde Manuel announced that Howard was to be the new maize and blue basketball coach after John Beilein’s sudden departure, the questions loomed about Howard’s lack of experience being a head coach. Yes, he had several years working with the Miami Heat as an assistant, but Michigan was entrusting its program to someone who had never been at the very top of a program at any level.
Still, those conversations persist, even more than a year into Howard’s tenure. And if you think he hasn’t heard the milling about whether or not he’s qualified to lead this team, think again. He’s heard it in droves.
As a matter of fact, that’s one of the things that drives him now.
Howard was asked about exactly this at his Wednesday morning media availability and he laid his feelings bare on the topic.
“You’re cute there — of course, I’ve heard it,” Howard said. “You’re trying to get me to make this — no, I’m not saying you’re trying to get me. I’m not here to make this a big issue. I just want to tell you this: I’ve always been very, extremely competitive since I started playing sports, whether it was basketball, baseball. I didn’t play competitive football, but in our neighborhood, we did play against each neighborhood’s park in football, where it was tackle football with no equipment.
“That level of mental toughness has prepared me for whatever has been thrown in my direction. Yeah, I hear the doubters. I’m not gonna sit here like I don’t hear the noise before I got hired. And also, still to this day, I hear the backhanded compliments. Am I competitive? Of course I am! But I’m also about improving and having the growth mindset of how I can get better to be the best version of myself to help prepare this team, and more importantly to represent this fine institution the best way possible. That’s my No. 1 goal. That’s what drives me. That’s what really excites me.
“And also — yeah, I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about plays, thinking about defensive situations, thinking about how I can get better, how I can help prepare the team. Because I’m a perfectionist. I have that — if you see my desk now, I’m a very organized person, but as my wife says, I have this type A personality. That’s how I’m wired. I wouldn’t have been able to last 19 years in the NBA if I didn’t have a certain edge about me. To get back into coaching, for six years as an assistant coach, the Miami Heat staff and also I took upon myself to prepare myself to become a head coach someday. I worked at this. And I’m gonna continue to keep working. I love it.
“People always doubt or have their — opinions. And they have every right to their opinion.”
The Wolverines have lost but one game thus far in the 2020-21 season. Certainly, as the maize and blue continue to dominate nearly every team they face, those questions will begin to subside from being a national narrative.
At least, one would think.
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