In his 12 years at Michigan, John Beilein took a run-down basketball program and returned it to national prominence. New associate head coach Phil Martelli went so far as to say Beilein made UM a "blue blood."
And Martelli, who was hired this offseason by Juwan Howard, believes Beilein's replacement can take the program to even greater heights.
"He’s exceeded my expectations. He’s a star, he’s a star. And they’re not paying me to say that," Martelli said Thursday at Michigan's media day. "Think about it, Michigan’s a blue blood. No one wants to admit that, but look at their record under John Beilein. Well, this is going up a level because of Juwan Howard."
Saddi Washington, the one coach that Howard retained from Beilein's staff, agreed.
"I think there is another level that it could go to, consistently, and I'm saying that having been a part of the former regime. I'm always quick to caution people not to look at what has been done in the past as something that was not fulfilling. I mean, you can look at the banners," said Washington, glancing around Crisler Center, "you can see the championships and say, 'Hey, man, this stuff worked,' and there's different ways to do this thing.
"I just think it’s different when you have a former player, an alum. It’s hard to really explain, but there's just a different energy that surrounds it. I think if we continue to move at the pace that we’ve been moving, yes, there is another level to it."
In the few months they've spent with Howard, both Martelli and Washington have taken note of the passion he feels for his school. Martelli said he got this sense when he spoke with Howard over the phone during their initial conversation in May, before Howard had officially landed the job, and it's only been confirmed since.
"First of all, he loves Michigan. He flat-out loves Michigan," Martelli said. "The football game against Iowa, he was in the first row behind the defense cheering as if he was an undergrad, and when they came off the field, two or three of those guys came over and gave him a pound because they knew he had their back. He loves Michigan.
"He absolutely loves his family. He’s brought family here. That’s our number one foundation in this program, is that we’re going to be family-oriented. Easy to say, hard to do. And I’m blown away by the teacher that he is. He loves getting his hands dirty and working, particularly with these big guys, but he works every aspect of this program. I’m amazed at how he’s taken to recruiting, how he engages every level of recruiting, whether it’s the mentor, the parent, the kid."
Wahington has also been impressed with the way Howard, who spent the previous six years as an assistant coach for the Miami Heat, has adapted to his new job.
"For former NBA guys who have made the transition to college, I think the biggest adjustment is the difference in pace," said Washington. "College basketball is constant, it never stops. I think he’s done a phenomenal job thus far of making that quick adjustment from a basketball perspective, which I think was very natural and easy for him, but more importantly, from a recruiting perspective, and then all the other things that come along with being a head coach at a major college basketball program."
Howard was brought to tears upon being introduced at his opening press conference in May. He said over and over how much it meant to him to be back at the place where he came into his own. He said Michigan was the only college coaching job he'd ever consider. And when the offer was made, he said he didn't think twice about taking it.
Washington said that initial impression has rung true.
"I see a guy who is very passionate about Michigan, and I think we all saw that in the press conference. But I think more importantly, you see a guy who’s very intentional about doing very well for our student athletes," Washington said. "It’s important for him to have 'X' (Zavier Simpson) and Jon (Teske) as seniors go out on a high note."
When Howard called Martelli back in May, it was with an informal offer. He wanted to know if Martelli, a basketball lifer with more than 40 years of coaching experience, would join his staff, if he indeed got the job. From the jump, Martelli was in.
"His first two sentences I was like, he was extremely humble, and a guy that you would want to be with on February the third at midnight, if that makes sense," Martelli said. "There are certain people in this profession that you’re like, okay, I have a job to do, but my sense was that this wouldn’t be a job. This wouldn’t be just taking a position, and it wouldn’t be a job for him, if it came to be. It would be truly coming back to his love."