Despite his leaving Charlotte Hornets today disappointment will be on Steve Clifford….

Juwan Howard to take up assistant role with Brooklyn Nets: Former Michigan head coach is reportedly going back to the NBA.
With a new job comes the former Michigan coach.

One month after the Wolverines relieved former Michigan basketball coach Juwan Howard of his position as head of the school’s basketball program, Howard has taken on a new responsibility. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Howard has decided to return to the NBA as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets, where he will be a part of head coach Jordi Fernandez’s first coaching staff. Before being appointed head coach at Michigan, Howard worked as an assistant for the Miami Heat.

Howard’s first NBA job is with the Nets after serving as an assistant for Miami from 2013 to 2019. Following Michigan’s split from the former Big Ten and National Coach of the Year at the conclusion of the 2023–24 campaign, it signifies a swift return to the sidelines.

Howard led the second-worst season in program history and its weakest performance in terms of win percentage since 1960–61.

Howard has an extensive background in the NBA as a player and coach. After playing at Michigan, he played almost twenty years on professional teams, was selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game, and won two league titles with the Heat in 2012 and 2013.

In a social media post from last month, Howard stated, “I want to thank the University, Board of Regents, and AD Warde Manuel for the privilege of coaching Michigan, my university, for these past five years.” “During my tenure as head coach, we shared memorable seasons and achievements, including a Big Ten championship, back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances and being within one game of the Final Four.”

Howard went just 26-40 in the latter two seasons of his Ann Arbor stint, although he concluded with an overall record of 87-72. When he was at his best, he guided Michigan to consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Elite Eight in 2021.

“My devotion and dedication to this program and most importantly, to my players and their families, provided a challenge that I welcomed and embraced, which required me to grow and expand my capabilities both personally and professionally,” Howard stated in a statement. “This past season’s health issues tried my resolve, but in typical Michigan Man fashion, I stood and faced them with the help of my family, the players, and the staff. I would especially like to thank all of the athletes I had the pleasure of coaching; you guys were and will always be my everything! Michigan will always hold a special place in my heart, and I shall hold a special one in theirs.”