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

