Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel gave a vote of confidence in head coach Juwan Howard on Wednesday amid speculation about his employment situation, saying he “hasn't really thought about any changes to our men's basketball program.”
The Wolverines lost 97-68 to Illinois on Tuesday, their 12th loss in 14 games.
“Juwan and I have talked, yes,” Manuel said. “We will continue to have those conversations as the season progresses. I continue to support him and the effort to change this. There is no lack of effort on the part of our student-athletes and our coaches. Sometimes it is a lack of execution. “We have to be better . He knows. “I will continue to have conversations with him and continue to support him and our program.”
“It would be fair to say that I haven't really thought about any changes to our men's basketball program at this time.”
Howard was sidelined at the start of the season following a successful heart procedure in September, returned to the sideline during Michigan's trip to the Bahamas for Battle 4 Atlantis as an observer and became an assistant coach for several games. He was cleared to return as head coach in mid-December, while also avoiding discipline following an altercation with strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson shortly before his return.
The Wolverines opened the season with three wins, including a 16-point road win at St. John's, but are 5-17 since that win. They have won only two games since December 16.
“I want to support Juwan to be successful,” Manuel said. “I haven't thought at all about changes at this point.”
Howard, who played at Michigan from 1991 to 1994 before being selected fifth in the NBA draft, returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2019. He guided the Wolverines to a Big Ten regular-season championship in 2021, receiving a 1-seed in the NCAA tournament and reaching the Elite Eight before losing to UCLA. Michigan reached the Sweet 16 the following season, before struggling last year en route to an 18-16 campaign.
