Report: Nets hire ex-Michigan coach Howard as assistant

Former Michigan head coach Juwan Howard is joining the Brooklyn Nets' staff as an assistant, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Howard's return to the NBA follows the Nets' hiring of Jordi Fernandez as their bench boss.

The 51-year-old Howard most recently spent five years coaching at his alma mater, Michigan, where he first made a name for himself as a player as part of its famed Fab Five. In his first-ever coaching stint, he took the Wolverines to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 2021 and 2022 and collected an 87-72 overall coaching record with the program.

However, after going 8-24 this past season, including a Big Ten-worst mark of 3-17, Michigan announced it was parting ways with Howard despite signing him in 2021 to an extension through 2025-26.

With the Nets, Howard returns to a familiar role. Prior to joining the Wolverines, he worked as an assistant for six years with the Miami Heat, the franchise with which he played the final three seasons of his 19-year NBA career. During his time on head coach Erik Spoelstra's staff, Miami made the Finals in his first year as an assistant.