The Michigan Men's basketball program is still reeling after a heartbreaking loss to UCLA in the Division I Men's Basketball Tournament last weekend. Fortunately, the Associated Press has offered a bit of positive news. The AP recently awarded Juwan Howard with the Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year award. He received 35 of 63 awards from the media voting body. Following behind Howard, Gonzaga's Mark Few earned 16 votes, Baylor's Scott Drew earned five votes and Alabama's Nate Oats earned five votes.
"Coach Howard does an elite job," UCLA Men's Basketball Head Coach Mick Cronin said.
"He doesn't do a good job. He does an elite job. When your team is as organized as they are on both ends and plays as physical and tough as they do, that is a reflection of their coach."
Howard has just wrapped up his second season at the helm of his alma mater. During his first season, he won 19 games and rose as high as number four in the AP Top 25 poll. This year, the Wolverines elevated their level of play and finished with a record of 23 wins and five losses. In the post-season, Michigan won the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament and made it to the Elite Eight.
"He's a high-character dude who treats everybody like family, so to be able to see someone like that succeed when a lot of people doubted him- he put his name up there," Michigan Wolverines Guard Eli Brooks said.
"It's fun to play for Juwan and he's a great guy, so I'm happy for him."
Heading into the 2021-2022 season, Howard could very well repeat as coach of the year. He has the number one ranked recruiting class heading to Ann Arbor, Michigan in the fall. Simply put, the future is bright for Howard.
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