Michigan Wolverines Basketball: Elite Culture Is All Juwan Howard Knows

When Juwan Howard signed with Michigan out of Chicago Vocational, he's already had great mentorship. Though she left it up to him, Howard's grandmother and guardian had a feeling that would continue at U-M if he picked the Wolverines.

She never got to see how right she was, tragically passing away on the day her grandson signed his letter of intent.

Howard, of course, became one of the more heralded five-man recruiting classes in college basketball history, leading U-M to the National Championship game twice and to three Elite Eights. He and the rest of the Fab Five and their teammates were an unbelievably selfless bunch that put ego aside to win, part of a culture established by Steve Fisher Howard has lived by everywhere he's been.

It's no surprise that his Michigan teams play the same way. They might not be as brash or as talented overall, but their only goal is to win together, something head coach John Beilein established even before Howard arrived in Ann Arbor.

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"That’s a great question," Howard said when asked for similarities between the cultures then and now and the part they played in his success. "When I was a player here at the University of Michigan, Coach Fisher and his staff did an unbelievable job of recruiting players that fit the culture. One of the biggest things I take back from it is we were a very selfless group that really bought into our roles. We really enjoyed playing with one another and really didn’t care about which guy got the attention. At the end of the day, it was about the team; we put the team first.

"As far as what Coach Beilein built, he did a phenomenal job and built a winning culture. The players he recruited were high character, excellent students, come from great families. The players that I recruited and joined the culture and my staff, what we’ve built thus far in the beginning stages has been beautiful. It’s great that the buy-in has been real."

That's part of recruiting, of course, and doing homework on the trail. Howard doesn't cut corners, having taken the lead with many kids, assistant Phil Martelli said several weeks ago, and develops a personal connection.

His genuine nature is a big part of what's won so many kids over. There's no B.S., something that becomes more evident every time he meets the media or, on a personal level, speaks to kids and their families.

It's how he was raised, from his home life to those who taught him.

"Family has always been an important part of our culture," he said. "Trust, sacrifice, accountability, being all-in ... that’s what we believe in. That’s what everyone has really bought into, and to trust in the culture.

"I love coaching this group because they’re a very selfless group. They play for one another. Each and every player enjoys each other’s success. If you look at the guys that are not on the floor, they’re really pouring a lot of energy and a lot of life into the guys who are out there competing. And then, when a guy comes off the floor, and he’s doing the same thing for the guys still out there competing."

He's in the infancy stages of his coaching career, but already has years and years of experience to impart on his players. While some guys make it to the NBA and play for a contract, to make as much money as they can before they retire, only a select few get to continue to learn what it takes to win, too.

Howard got it all. He signed a multi-million dollar contract in the 90s with the Washington Wizards and finished his career with a franchise that was all about culture. Erik Spoelstra became the latest mentor in his life, and Howard gave him full credit for helping mold him.

"I am a part of the coach Spoelstra tree, and I’ve learned a lot from him," Howard said. "Working with him for six years and also playing for three years ... he’s a Hall of Fame coach, understands and knows what it takes to win. Also, what makes him so special is the relationships that he has developed with not only his staff but his players. The trust that he has in his staff and how he does an amazing job in developing coaches ... those guys are going to become better coaches if they really trust the leadership that’s in place. I know they will, because there are so many things in the Miami Heat culture that really breeds success.

"So, I look at this program here at the University of Michigan. I would be a fool if I did not implement some of the things that I learned working with the Heat. There are a lot of Miami things that have spread into the University of Michigan’s culture, so it’s no surprise to me that our team has really enjoyed playing with one another and why our team competes at a high level, and why we’re in this position we’re in right now."

But he's a big part of it, and his team has been built the only way he knows.

Expect that to continue for the rest of his U-M tenure. His players are teaching the new guys, taking them under their wings to make sure they know how they represent and support is a key part of what they're about.

"That’s a part of a winning team, and that’s why I’ve just been so fortunate to see the growth in this group," Howard said. "We will continue to keep growing together."

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