Gary Sheffield, Jr
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Juwan Howard’s name has been circulating around NBA Twitter for a return from coaching Michigan. Howard put the rumors to bed via Twitter and it shows coaches at all levels are taking pages from Nick Saban’s book.
— Juwan Howard (@JuwanHoward) August 24, 2020
Used to be a rush to get to the professional level. The mountaintop. Now the job is understood to be a place coaches go to kill their legacy. Not to say Juwan Howard made his decision out of fear, but why thrust yourself into unnecessary pressure?
Rumors of Nick Saban flew for years as the Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the SEC, but Saban never took the bait. It’s clear that Saban didn’t need the NFL platform to build arguably the greatest legacy in the sport. A perfect example to lead a Juwan Howard to a more sensible decision.
With the strength of available jobs in the NBA like the Philadelphia 76ers, interest from coaches will always be there. Most of that interest comes from TV guys: Mark Jackson, Stan Van Gundy….They’ll take anything they can get.
Coaching at the professional level sounds sexy, but it throws your career in the fire whether you’re ready or not. Never forget Nick Saban was sent packing after just two years with an organization like the Miami Dolphins. For now…Juwan Howard stays at Michigan to help improve on last year’s 19-12 record…We’ll see who takes Philly up on their offer.
As a fan of the team formerly known as the Washington Bullets, I have no ill will toward Juan H, but in his entire NBA career and his briefness at Michigan, I cannot recall one Great Play or Moment in his athletic career. I know he made $200 million lol
Michigan may not have a basketball team if the Big 14 continues they way they are.
Hey Gary,
You’re right NBA coach used to be the mountaintop, but no longer…and college coaching makes more sense if you want a more stable family life…especially with young kids or teens.
Just checks now — and I can hardly believe, but:
Average tenure for NBA head coach — 2.4 years
They mention Pop’s 18 years at SA, and if you take him out of the mix, the average is 1.9 years.
I recall that saying “you’re hired to get fired”; can’t recall what sport it was, but it seems to fit.
Smart move by Juwan. Al Maguire once said he’d coach an NBA team only if he got paid $1 more than the highest paid player on the team. He’s made plenty of $$$ as a player, gets paid pretty well at Michigan, and gets to have a meaningful impact on young men’s lives. It’s a no-brainer call. Wish him the best.