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Travel back in time through the John Beilein era for Michigan basketball.
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ROSEMONT, Ill. – Ohio State Sports Director Gene Smith has already been in place of Warde Manuel.

Manuel, the Michigan sporting director, is finding a new head coach to replace John Beilein, who left for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

Finding a replacement for Beilein, the most successful coach in the history of the program, is already quite difficult. But the timing of research is far from ideal, as most transitions take place between March and April.

"I'm not sure I want to replace someone as good as John or Thad, if I had the time I needed," said Smith at Big Ten's headquarters on Tuesday. . " But it's a little more difficult because of the fact that some coaches are stuck in their list and may not want to leave it. So it's a bit of a unique calendar.

"Finding coaches a little harder because that's the window of time you're recruiting or traveling, so trying to contact them is a little more difficult logistically."

Michigan Sports Director Warde Manuel is listening at a news conference on Sunday, April 1, 2018 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)

In the end, however, Smith thinks that the attractiveness of the job will outweigh any difficulties associated with the timing of the research.

"The good thing about U-M research and our research is that we have great institutions," Smith said. "John did a great job there and a good coach will want to go because of what's out there. … At the end of the day, when you have an iconic place like UM , an outstanding athletic director and excellent supporter support, you're going to look for someone good. "

Two years ago, Smith faced a similar situation regarding the Ohio State Basketball Program. On June 5, 2017, Smith fired Thad Matta, the school's long-time coach, who reached two finals and won nine Big Ten combined titles with the Buckeyes. Smith hired Chris Holtmann out of Butler on June 9th.

Like Manuel, who was a bit prepared from Beilein because of his interest in Detroit As the head coach of Pistons last summer, Smith had put together an emergency plan for the football and basketball programs.

"You always have a group of people you think of," Smith said. "My guess is that Warde has already started this process."

[[[[Who will be John Beilein's replacement? Here are some coaching candidates from Michigan]

Meanwhile, Smith says he's relying on the support of a research firm. Manuel and Michigan will employ the services of Turnkey, the same company used in the process that ultimately resulted in the hiring of Manuel as a sports director in 2016.

"When I followed my process, that's why I spent my time with the firm I hired," Smith said. "I checked my lists, I was looking for interests, I was studying the background and my research person was really questioning my thoughts." I had an operation on a person's list.

"I was able to move quickly.This was done in less than a week, because I had a partner who worked with me, who really challenged me and that allowed me to stay focused and not get out of my way I should not be chasing and staying really true to my criteria and what I was looking for. "

Ohio State Athletic Director, Gene Smith, listens at a press conference on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo: Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)

According to Smith, there is no "cookie-cutter" approach to doing research like Michigan. While research in the state of Ohio in 2017 has taken about five days, everything depends on what the sports department is looking for. It will also depend on the potential candidates. In the normal window, "usually they know and they are ready to roll". Now, candidates may need more time to process their thoughts and make a decision.

Smith acknowledged the difficulty presented by conducting a coaching search in May, but feels it will not be "as difficult as people think". He thinks that Beilein has raised the Michigan platform and the head coaching position, and that it's "a place that someone will want to train."

"I'm excited and happy for him," said Smith. "It's obviously something he wanted, I think he'll do a great job in this country, it's hard for our league to lose a player of this quality, I think he raised the bar in our league, what he accomplished there, he will be missed.

"In reality, they have such a mark, John has done such a good job, it's a place that someone wants to be in. I think Warde and his team will find a great coach at the end of the day." they will find some good because of who they are. "

Contact Orion Sang at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Learn more about the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.

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