Michigan fires Juwan Howard, the former Fab Five star, after five seasons coaching men's basketball

Ann Arbor, Michigan:Michigan fired coach Juwan Howard on Friday after five seasons, parting ways with the former Fab Five star whose return to his alm...

Ann Arbor, Michigan: Michigan fired coach Juwan Howard on Friday after five seasons, parting ways with the former Fab Five star whose return to his alma mater included a Big Ten title and advancing in two NCAA Tournaments before closing with two straight disappointing seasons.

Howard finished with an 82-67 record with the Wolverines, reaching some highs and lows. He won a conference regular season championship and was a win away from the Final Four in 2021, when he was named The Associated Press coach of the year.

He lost a school-record 24 games this season as Michigan plummeted to a last-place finish in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel made the call to fire Howard without cause two days after an eight-win season ended with a loss to Penn State in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament.

"After a comprehensive review of the program, I have decided that Juwan will not return as our men’s basketball coach,” Manuel said in a statement from the school that did not include a comment from Howard. "Juwan is among the greatest Wolverines to ever be associated with our basketball program.