The University of Michigan has fired head basketball coach Juwan Howard following an altercation with the head coach of the University of Wisconsin. The incident occurred during a post-game handshake line, where Howard was seen striking Wisconsin’s head coach, Greg Gard. Howard has since apologized for his actions, but it was not enough to save his job.
Howard, a former NBA player and Michigan alumnus, was in his third season as head coach of the Wolverines. He had experienced some success during his tenure, leading the team to an NCAA Tournament berth in his first season and a Big Ten regular-season championship in his second. However, this recent incident has tarnished his reputation and ultimately led to his dismissal.
Athletic director Warde Manuel announced the decision to terminate Howard’s contract, stating that the university holds its coaches and staff to a high standard of conduct. He emphasized that the behavior displayed by Howard was unacceptable and did not align with the values of the university’s athletic department.
The news of Howard’s firing has sent shockwaves through the college basketball community, with many expressing disappointment and surprise at the turn of events. Howard was well-respected within the industry and had a promising coaching career ahead of him. However, his loss of control in the heat of the moment has derailed his future with the Wolverines.
The search for a new head coach is now underway at Michigan, with several names being floated as potential candidates to lead the program. In the meantime, assistant coach Phil Martelli will assume interim coaching duties for the remainder of the season. Fans and supporters of the Wolverines will be watching closely to see how the team responds to this sudden change in leadership.
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