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It's a jump and a splash, a dive into a deep unknown. Everyone knows Juwan Howard, Michigan's Fab Five player, an NBA stalwart for 19 seasons, an NBA assistant for six more seasons, a man with 25 years of experience at the highest level.

This is what we do not know that makes hiring a huge and tempting risk for Michigan. John Beilein, who has spent 12 seasons as a coach and played 297 college games in 41 years, has entrusted a basketball program to a guy whose training record is zero at all levels.

Juwan Howard and UM have agreed on a five-year, $ 2 million contract a year for the basketball coach. (Photo: David Zalubowski, Associate Press)

Sports director Warde Manuel made the bold decision. Due to the timing of Beilein's departure, he did not have many options. When he began his research 10 days ago, Manuel probably did not intend to choose a new head coach – without experience as a university coach – and that's the risk. It's also the attraction that Howard's name and his relationship with the NBA will pay dividends in recruiting, as he finds his way as a daily coach. Matching Beilein's tactical sense is highly unlikely, but bringing together the best players can be an antidote.

For Michigan fans, Wednesday's news was probably half exciting and half trying. For Howard, 46, this is a chance to find his alma mater and prove himself in a job he covets. For the program, it's a test of the power of his brand and the strength of Howard's relationships.

It did not cost too much because Howard signed a five-year contract with a modest annual salary of $ 2 million. Beilein earned $ 3.8 million. Although Manuel's experience was declared as head coach, few candidates seemed willing to change positions at this late date. It is known that only three coaches interviewed – Providence's assistants for Ed Cooley and Michigan, Saddi Washington and Luke Yaklich.

Thus, in 10 days, Beilein landed a position he had never held before: head coach of the NBA with the Cavaliers, and Howard then jumped back. It will be presented at a press conference next week.

"I know in my heart that it's the right place and the right time," Howard said in a statement. "As a Michigan man, I know the place our program occupies in college basketball and I have the opportunity to build on this story and lead us to championships both at the Big Ten level and at the national level. "

It will be fascinating, it is the least that can be said. And this will certainly put the "Michigan Man" thesis to the test. Michigan is the only major school in the country where students lead football (Jim Harbaugh) and basketball teams. Manuel is also a Michigan graduate. It's a great confidence in the local talent.

Social relevance is not lost either. Howard becomes the only African-American men's basketball head coach in the Big Ten, which has 14 teams. Let's be clear about this: this is not a meeting with the Fab Five, although Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson have been passionately supported.

It sounds like a boom or a recession, but it will take patience. Howard's priority should be to keep some of the current staff of DeAndre Haynes of Yaklich, Washington, and Jon Sanderson, head coach. The Wolverines have already lost much of their 30-7 team, including three NBA beginners: Ignas Brazdeikis, Jordan Poole and Charles Matthews. Ironically, the NBA pipeline that helped Beilein pull out of the university game helped bring Howard into the college game.

His ties to all sorts of NBA stars, from LeBron James to retired Dwyane Wade, from legendary coach Pat Riley to current Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, could thrill rookies. Already, the player of the top 50 Jalen Wilson, who left Michigan and is named Jalen Rose, may be interested in starting again with Howard on board.

It's been 25 years since the Fab Five shook university basketball, reaching consecutive league games, and the young recruits did not grow up watching them. But their parents did. And history has persisted partly because of the controversy. The four final banners of 1992 and 1993 have not been suspended at the Crisler Center for a long time since the recall scandal Ed Martin put Michigan under probation.

Howard was not involved in the scandal, but he will have to defeat the perception of that time. In the opinion of all, it is a hard worker, loved by Heat players and respected in the league. When he learned that he had interviewed Manuel Tuesday in Miami, his support came from many angles.

"Absolutely the right choice and I hope it will become a business done as soon as possible !!" tweeted James. "One of my favorite people I met at the age of 16 and since."

Spoelstra, heat coach, said in a statement: "Juwan is an absolute star as a person, player and coach. I feel that he is more than ready. "

There is a reason why so many basketball players have pushed hard for Howard, beyond their personal feelings and respect for his reputation. The lack of experience has made Michigan an unconventional gamble and probably required strong endorsements.

Howard was a three-year-old star in Michigan, he left early for the NBA and came back to graduate. He grew up after his modest debut in Chicago, raised by his grandmother, and as the first of the Fab Five to sign with Michigan, he essentially recruited the others.

As a professional member of the Fab Five, a sober leader, he followed this approach as a player for 19 years in the NBA, winning a championship with Miami. Great assets, great traits, and yet still a great unknown. Not only has he never been a head coach, he has never been a staff member at a college. He was never in a rookie's living room and did not explain why the child had to play for him, neither Tom Izzo nor anyone else.

For this to work, it must be Howard's passion, not necessarily his expertise.

"I know there's no other job in the world that he would want more than (Michigan)," said Webber on the show "Rich Eisen Show ". "I know there's nothing he can put his soul into more than his wife and children that this job is waiting for this opportunity."

In the best case, Howard unifies the program during a tumultuous transition and recruits want to play for him. In the scary scenario, it takes a while to navigate the intricacies of the academic game. In any case, Michigan basketball has just made a huge leap and nobody knows where it is.

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Twitter: @bobwojnowski