Juwan Howard overcome by 'tears of joy' at Michigan's introductory press conference
Howard said he felt like he let his teammates down when he declared for the NBA Draft 25 years ago and was emotional about his return.
Juwan Howard was officially introduced as the new Michigan basketball coach Thursday at Crisler Center, and the former member of the program’s Fab Five in the early 1990s was overcome with emotion about his return to Ann Arbor.
Howard is replacing John Beilein — the Wolverines’ winningest coach in program history after 12 seasons — who’s off to coach the Cleveland Cavaliers. Howard had been an assistant coach for the Miami Heat since 2013 after nearly two decades playing in the NBA before returning to Michigan.
As athletic director Warde Manuel introduced Howard, the new head coach was already emotional. And he stepped up to the podium, he said he was crying “tears of joy” about his new job.
“I said I wasn’t gonna cry. I guess that never happens when you’re excited about something so special to you that means so much. Last time I had a press conference in this building was 1994. I declared that I was going to go to the NBA. Felt like I was letting down my teammates because I didn’t do what I came here to do, and that was to bring a championship to this university — a university that I care so much about. I guess you can see that now, huh?
“Now let’s fast forward 25 years later. I’m back. I’m back to help continue this Michigan tradition. I’m back to help continue this beautiful culture that has been instilled here before me, and — whenever that day comes — after me.”
Howard was the fifth overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft after forgoing his senior season with the Wolverines. He played in the league for 19 seasons and was a two-time NBA champ with the Heat and a one-time All-Star.
The Cavaliers announced Beilein — whose most recent accomplishments with the Wolverines include going to a third straight Sweet 16 in 2019 after advancing to the Final Four the previous year — as their new head coach on May 13, and Howard was named the next Michigan coach May 22.
Howard and the school agreed to a five-year, $2 million per year deal, the Detroit Free Press reported.
Here’s a more complete look at Howard’s introductory press conference at Michigan on Thursday: