Sports

Wolverines Juwan Howard Joins Host Of New Coaches To Watch

November 1, 2019 / 8:32 AM EDT / CBS Detroit

About a quarter-century ago, Juwan Howard and Jerry Stackhouse were two of the biggest names in college basketball. Now, they're trying to succeed as coaches.

ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 26: Josh Richardson #0 and assistant coach Juwan Howard of the Miami Heat on the bench on opening night against the Orlando Magic on October 26, 2016 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Manuela Davies/Getty Images)

Howard took over his former team when he replaced John Beilein at Michigan, and Stackhouse was hired to be the new coach at Vanderbilt. Both of them starred as players in the early-to-mid 1990s and went on to lengthy NBA careers.

INDEPENDENCE, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach John Beilein of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Cleveland Cavaliers Media Day at Cleveland Clinic Courts on September 30, 2019 in Independence, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Howard is remembered fondly at Michigan for reaching two Final Fours with the Wolverines as part of the Fab Five, but he has big shoes to fill after the program finally reached those heights again under Beilein. Stackhouse led North Carolina to a Final Four in 1995. He isn't back with the Tar Heels — that job is rarely open — but Vanderbilt is hoping he can turn things around after the Commodores went 9-23 last season.

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 14: NBA player Jerry Stackhouse of ther Brooklyn Nets attends the TopSpin 2012 charity event at 82 Mercer on November 14, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images)

Howard and Stackhouse will be two of the most scrutinized new coaches this coming season, but several other programs are also under new leadership.

UCLA

Mick Cronin takes over the Bruins after a consistent, solid run at Cincinnati. UCLA hasn't been a national power of late, and Steve Alford was fired in the middle of last season.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero introduces Mick Cronin as the new UCLA Mens Head Basketball Coach at Pauley Pavilion on April 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Alford is now the coach at Nevada. UCLA lost its top three scorers, but seniors Prince Ali and Alex Olesinski return. Cincinnati, meanwhile, hired John Brannen to replace Cronin.

Brannen reached the NCAA Tournament twice in the last three years at Northern Kentucky.

ARKANSAS

This is a program with an impressive arena and passionate fans, but it has struggled to stay relevant since Nolan Richardson's exit. Arkansas fired Mike Anderson, who ended up going to St. John's. The Razorbacks are now led by former Nevada coach Eric Musselman. Arkansas has to replace scoring and rebounding leader Daniel Gafford, who left for the NBA. Musselman says the Razorbacks will share the ball and shoot a lot of 3-pointers.

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Head coach Eric Musselman of the Nevada Wolf Pack reacts against the Florida Gators in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

ALABAMA

Elsewhere in the Southeastern Conference, Alabama landed former Buffalo coach Nate Oats. The Crimson Tide made the NCAA Tournament just twice since 2006, whereas Buffalo made it three times in the last four seasons under Oats. Buffalo went 32-4 last season. The Bulls promoted Jim Whitesell, Oats' top assistant, to take over that program.

VIRGINIA TECH

The Hokies have made the NCAA Tournament three straight years and nearly knocked off Duke in the Sweet 16 this past season, but they lost coach Buzz Williams to Texas A&M. Virginia Tech quickly hired Mike Young, who spent 17 seasons as Wofford's coach and finished third in the AP coach of the year vote in 2019. The Terriers beat Seton Hall in the first round of last season's NCAA Tournament. Wofford promoted associate head coach Jay McAuley to take over Young's job.

SAINT JOSEPH'S

It was the end of an era when Saint Joseph's fired longtime coach Phil Martelli. He's now on Howard's staff at Michigan. The Hawks will now be coached by former Philadelphia 76ers assistant Billy Lange. There's another big change in the Big 5 as well: Temple's Aaron McKie takes over for Fran Dunphy. McKie is another former player back at his school as a coach: His Owls were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by Howard's Michigan team in 1992 and 1993.

BELMONT

Rick Byrd retired after 805 victories and eight NCAA Tournament berths, and Belmont hired Casey Alexander to replace him. He was an assistant for Byrd for 16 years before spending time as the head coach at Stetson and Lipscomb. Alexander is also a former Belmont player.