ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - Juwan Howard will be back as Michigan’s head coach in time for Saturday’s game, officials said.
In a statement, Michigan Athletic Direct Warde Manuel announced that Howard would “return to the Michigan bench Saturday (Dec. 16) against Eastern Michigan in his total capacity as head coach.”
Howard hasn’t been coaching this season because he had a heart procedure in September to remove an aortic aneurysm. Manuel said that Howard's doctors as well as medical experts from the university felt Howard returning was the "next step" in his recovery.
Manuel also thanked Phil Martelli, who filled in as the head coach while Howard was recovering.
“We greatly appreciate associate head coach Phil Martelli’s guidance of our program on an interim basis to start the season,” Manuel said. “I want to personally thank Phil for what he has done in the past few months to lead the program. We will continue to benefit from his wisdom moving forward.”
Howard was also under investigation last week for an alleged confrontation with a staff member, officials said. The investigation concluded that there was no reason for any discipline.