By Jake Riepma | @jake_riepma
We've all heard the expression "You never know what you've got 'til it's gone."
In one of the most shocking news stories of the year so far, John Beilein is headed to Cleveland to be the next head coach of the Cavaliers.
For perspective, here's just a taste of what the program is losing:
- 278 wins – the most all-time in Michigan basketball history
- 9 NCAA Tournament appearances
- 18 Tournament wins since 2013 (tied for the most with John Calipari, Mike Krzyzewski, and Roy Williams -- Perhaps you've heard of them?)
- 2 Final Four Appearances
- 2 Big Ten regular season championships
- 2 Big Ten Tournament titles
- School record 33 wins in 2017-2018
- 5 Sweet Sixteen appearances
- Countless player accolades, including 18 All-Big Ten selections and nine NBA draft picks
In a time of absolute corruption in college basketball, Beilein ran a squeaky-clean program and built Michigan the right way. All in all, his time in Ann Arbor should be categorized as remarkable.
But it's over, and I'm not one to cry over spilled milk. In fact, let's consider some of the possible reasons for his departure. Obviously, he's not the first college coach to make the jump to the Association, but perhaps the constant underappreciation by his own fan base took its toll on the iconic coach.
Imagine accomplishing all that Beilein had, and still being viewed as second class to 'Captain Khaki' and the underachieving football program. Sure, I'm speculating here – but don't you think reaching multiple NCAA Tournament finals and winning multiple conference titles for your program while the football team is busy finishing second or third in its own division, while still being viewed as the big ticket on campus, would get old?
There are many factors contributing to him leaving -- including his dream of coaching in the NBA and his fascination with rebuilding, but the backseat he and his program took to Harbaugh and the football program for the last several years must be mentioned. Since Harbaugh arrived in 2015, Michigan football has won zero conference titles, gone 1-3 in bowl games, and taken three overseas trips. In that same timetable, Beilein has won two conference championships, was the National Runner-Up in 2018, and besides this year, has actually beat rivals.
The frustration of being the football teams' sloppy seconds and completely underappreciated may not have been the driving factor in the decision to make the move, but it helped. Michigan fans should have been celebrating Beilein the same way they crowned Harbaugh upon his arrival, but now it's too late -- He gone!
Admittedly, I am not a Michigan or Michigan State fan (Go 'Cats), but I am sports addict that craves relevancy for our local teams. The Beilein era gave us just that; for several years the Michigan and Michigan State basketball rivalry was can't-miss action every time, and I'm fearful those days are gone for the immediate future. It feels like the last few years of college basketball in our state wasn't valued by the masses the way it should have been.
Beilein cemented his legacy and made Michigan basketball relevant again, but an opportunity presented itself and he took it. I pray the loss isn't insurmountable, but if Michigan basketball returns to the irrelevancy it experienced pre-Beilein, Michigan fans will only have themselves to blame.
What John Beilein did for Michigan basketball cannot be understated, but many Michigan fans were too busy drooling over Harbaugh to truly appreciate his greatness.
