Michigan's coaching search enters the weekend with two interviews to come ...
Some believe Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel will make a "quick decision" after interviewing "two or three" people early next week. As previously reported, we know two of them are Miami Heat assistant and former Fab Fiver Juwan Howard and Butler head coach LaVall Jordan.
They are still working on identifying other potential candidates. Providence's Ed Cooley is a name we've heard, but we don't think he gets an interview. Texas' Shaka Smart is on Michigan's list — again, not a guess — but we don't think it gets that far if all goes well with the interviewees (he's not expected to be one of the initial "two or three").
We expect Luke Yaklich to end up at Texas, and we expect former Michigan signee Jalen Wilson of Denton (Texas) Guyer to go with him. If they get to Smart and he reciprocates (which is seeming less likely at this point), you probably get both Yaklich and Wilson back in Ann Arbor.
If it comes down to Jordan and Howard, Howard is probably the likely choice. As mentioned before, Jordan has a huge buyout. Michigan wouldn't have to pay a dime to get Howard. That could certainly be a factor.
Those close to it still in Ann Arbor believe Saddi Washington and DeAndre Haynes would have a very good shot at keeping their jobs with a Jordan hire, and we believe Jeff Meyer would come back with him, as well. With Howard, they have no idea.
How it affects recruiting beyond Wilson ...
As most know by now, Howard is related to 2019 five-star Jaden McDaniels (a cousin). Rivals.com's No. 7 prospect nationally spoke with us about that last year, said he'd like to check Michigan out. The never happened, and he's now got Washington and Kentucky on his list as his final two.
You would hope that would be a slam dunk for the Wolverines should Howard get the job.
Some close to 2020 pledge Zeb Jackson said they are very hopeful the assistants stay, and they're apprehensive about Howard only because he has no head coaching/college experience.
"No disrespect ... just facts," the source said.
It would be up to Howard to win him over if he got the job.
Update: Luke Yaklich did meet with Warde Manuel. We believe this was a more of a courtesy interview, perhaps (speculation) maybe even talking about staying on as an assistant for the next head coach with the pot sweetened. Either way, Yaklich is in a pretty good situation.
So that's where we are early Saturday morning. We'll continue to monitor the search through the weekend and beyond.
Some believe Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel will make a "quick decision" after interviewing "two or three" people early next week. As previously reported, we know two of them are Miami Heat assistant and former Fab Fiver Juwan Howard and Butler head coach LaVall Jordan.
They are still working on identifying other potential candidates. Providence's Ed Cooley is a name we've heard, but we don't think he gets an interview. Texas' Shaka Smart is on Michigan's list — again, not a guess — but we don't think it gets that far if all goes well with the interviewees (he's not expected to be one of the initial "two or three").
We expect Luke Yaklich to end up at Texas, and we expect former Michigan signee Jalen Wilson of Denton (Texas) Guyer to go with him. If they get to Smart and he reciprocates (which is seeming less likely at this point), you probably get both Yaklich and Wilson back in Ann Arbor.
If it comes down to Jordan and Howard, Howard is probably the likely choice. As mentioned before, Jordan has a huge buyout. Michigan wouldn't have to pay a dime to get Howard. That could certainly be a factor.
Those close to it still in Ann Arbor believe Saddi Washington and DeAndre Haynes would have a very good shot at keeping their jobs with a Jordan hire, and we believe Jeff Meyer would come back with him, as well. With Howard, they have no idea.
How it affects recruiting beyond Wilson ...
As most know by now, Howard is related to 2019 five-star Jaden McDaniels (a cousin). Rivals.com's No. 7 prospect nationally spoke with us about that last year, said he'd like to check Michigan out. The never happened, and he's now got Washington and Kentucky on his list as his final two.
You would hope that would be a slam dunk for the Wolverines should Howard get the job.
Some close to 2020 pledge Zeb Jackson said they are very hopeful the assistants stay, and they're apprehensive about Howard only because he has no head coaching/college experience.
"No disrespect ... just facts," the source said.
It would be up to Howard to win him over if he got the job.
Update: Luke Yaklich did meet with Warde Manuel. We believe this was a more of a courtesy interview, perhaps (speculation) maybe even talking about staying on as an assistant for the next head coach with the pot sweetened. Either way, Yaklich is in a pretty good situation.
So that's where we are early Saturday morning. We'll continue to monitor the search through the weekend and beyond.
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