Juwan Howard to join Brooklyn Nets as assistant coach

Less than a week after his appointment as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, Jordi Fernandez has secured a high-profile addition to his coaching team. Former University of Michigan head coach Juwan Howard is set to join the Nets, a move first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Howard, a two-time NBA champion, boasts a 19-year playing career in the league followed by six seasons as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat. After his tenure in the NBA, Howard returned to his alma mater, leading the Michigan Wolverines for five seasons. During his time there, he achieved an 87-72 record and guided the team to two March Madness tournaments, reaching the Elite Eight and Sweet 16. Despite these early successes, Michigan experienced a decline, culminating in a disappointing 8-24 season last year, leading to Howard's dismissal in March.

Howard's early success at Michigan had previously made him a candidate for NBA head coaching roles, including a notable consideration by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 before they chose Darvin Ham. However, Howard chose to stay at Michigan, partly to coach his sons, Jett and Jace Howard.

Joining Howard on Fernandez's staff is Steve Hetzel, who comes from a three-year stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. Howard's return to the NBA marks a new chapter for him as he transitions back to the league, not as a head coach but as an integral part of a Nets team looking to rebuild after a challenging 32-50 season that saw them miss the Play-In Tournament by four games.


Source CBS Sports : Juwan Howard, former Michigan head coach, to join Brooklyn Nets staff as assistant coach, per report
Source Sportsnet : Report: Juwan Howard joining Brooklyn Nets as assistant coach