12
Thursday, June 7 2018
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
SPORTS
After
heavy
speculation
into his rumored departure,
Michigan coach John Beilein
unequivocally
announced
his
plans
to
stay
with
the
Wolverines
for
the
foreseeable future.
Rumors recently surfaced
of Beilein’s potential move
further east in the state of
Michigan to undertake the
head coaching job for the
Detroit Pistons. After firing
coach Stan Van Gundy, the
Pistons
are
in
desperate
need of solid leadership and
are surveying all possible
options. Somewhere in the
mix was Beilein’s name.
Putting all worries to bed
in one tweet, Beilein made his
intentions known, “I love the
University of Michigan and
I am excited about coaching
our Men’s Basketball Team
next season and in the years
to come ! Let’s go hang
some more banners at ‘THE
GREATEST
UNIVERSITY
IN THE WORLD ‘ #GoBlue.”
Wolverine
faithful
were
left in limbo after Beilein
interviewed
with
the
Pistons last Thursday, but as
reported by The Athletic on
Wednesday, Beilein is now
close to an extension to his
current contract with the
school.
It’s no wonder the 65-year-
old
coach
drew
interest
from the next level after he
led Michigan to a program-
record
33
wins
and
an
appearance in the national
title game — his second in
five years.
Consistently
summoning
top-level play from low-level
recruits, Beilein has amassed
a 249-143 record in 11 seasons
with
the
Wolverines
and
has led Michigan to two Big
Ten titles and eight NCAA
Tournament appearances.
Already the ninth-highest
paid
coach
in
college
basketball, Beilein’s rumored
increase
in
salary
could
bolster his spot in that sense.
“We are thrilled that John
Beilein will be our coach now
and into the future.” said
Michigan athletic director
Warde Manuel. “We made it
a priority to sit down shortly
after our tremendous run
in the Final Four to discuss
and solidify his future at
Michigan.
Michigan
has
become home for John and
Kathleen the past 11 years
and we are excited they plan
to stay for years to come.”
Ask any player or fan of
the Wolverines, and they will
share
Warde’s
sentiment.
Having coached eight NBA
draft picks and tremendously
raised their pro-ready stock
with his complex offensive
schemes, Beilein has two
elite
incoming
freshman
classes for the 2018-19 and
2019-20 seasons.
Recently announcing his
verbal commitment, highly-
touted recruit Jalen Wilson
is set to play under Beilein
in Crisler Center for the
2019-20 season. Coming in
as the 34th-ranked recruit
nationally
according
to
247sports.com,
Wilson
will be the highest ranked
recruit for Beilein since Kam
Chatman in 2014 who was the
27th-ranked recruit in his
class.
Coming to Ann Arbor in
the fall is his second-highest
ranked class in his tenure at
Michigan. The class is ranked
11th nationally and includes
in-state stars such as forward
Brandon Johns and guard
David DeJulius.
Needless to say, Beilein has
a strong foundation on which
to expand his legacy with the
Wolverines in pursuit of the
ultimate goal: a national title.
JACOB KOPNICK & TIEN LE
Summer Managing Sports Editors
FILE PHOTO / DAILY
DESIGN BY JACK SILBERMAN