His fist a blur, Juwan Howard loses it (Video capture)
Update, 4:52 p.m. Monday: The University of Michigan's head basketball coach, Juwan Howard, is suspended for the last two weeks of the regular season, the Detroit Free Press reports. The Big Ten league suspension through March 6 doesn't include postseason play.
Five games remain in the regular schedule..
Howard also is fined $40,000 for hitting a University of Wisconsin assistant coach after Sunday's loss by U-M. Michigan forwards Moussa Diabate and Terrance Williams II are suspended one game for fighting.
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard is fined $10,000 for his behavior and Wisconsin guard Jahcobi Neath must sit out one game.
Original article, Monday morning:
Juwan Howard, head basketball coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines, lost his temper in the handshake line after losing to the Wisconsin Badgers Sunday. He took a swing at a Wisconsin assistant coach, connecting in an awkward punch/slap that could be the last of his career.
Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnowski called for a multiple-game suspension, "at least." Nolan Finley skipped straight to firing, citing Howard's hot temper.
Juwan Howard (File photo)
The Detroit News opinion editior writes:
It was the second time Howard has initiated a bench-clearing donnybrook on national TV. He was hit with two technical fouls and was ejected in a game against Maryland last March when he clashed with coach Mark Turgeon.
In that confrontation, an enraged Howard had to be pushed off the court by his assistant coaches. And Turgeon claimed Howard yelled, "I'm gonna f---ing kill you."
And that, Finley said, should be the last straw:
A coach who can not control his temper should not be allowed to lead a team of young men. He is a bad example for his players.
Howard's anger was allegedly provoked by a timeout that Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard took with only 15 seconds left on the clock. The Badgers were leading by 15 points at the time. Howard called it "not necessary" at the moment, and later claimed Gard touched him "unnecessarily" in the handshake line.
“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH ME” pic.twitter.com/XfnVaEVtiT
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 21, 2022
The assistant coach, Joe Krabbenhoft, approached Howard and began taunting him.
If Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren only has the authority to sideline him for two games, UM AD Warde Manuel will have to consider adding more. Manuel released a statement Sunday acknowledging Michigan’s culpability for “the totally unacceptable behavior.” He said he apologized to Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh, and added that Michigan interim President Mary Sue Coleman had reached out to Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank.
When the presidents are involved, you can expect severe repercussions. And there should be. Manuel said he’ll work with the Big Ten to review it, and I imagine it will be resolved quickly. No, this doesn’t have to wreck Howard’s career. If he learns from it, it won’t. It certainly could wreck Michigan’s season.
As of early Monday, Howard still had his job -- though the university says it "will determine if any further disciplinary actions are needed:"
(Slide: University of Michigan Athletic Department)
