Juwan Howard receives positive update in return to coaching after offseason heart procedure

Juwan Howard has not been on the Michigan bench as the Wolverines opened the 2023-24 basketball season. That absence has been related to his recovery from an offseason heart procedure, but he received a positive update Thursday evening.

According to a Michigan spokesman, Howard will begin his transition back to the bench as an assistant coach for Saturday’s game against Oregon. In the meantime, Phil Martelli will continue as the interim head coach with Colin Anschuetz moving back to an off-court position.

From a Michigan basketball spokesman: Juwan Howard will transition back to an assistant coach. Phil Martelli remains interim head coach. Colin Anschuetz will go back to off court duties.

— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) November 30, 2023

Howard underwent a heart procedure in September and received a 6-12 week timetable to make a full recovery. The procedure involved resecting an aortic aneurysm and repairing the aortic valve.

“I feel so grateful and blessed that this surgery was performed at University of Michigan Health,” Howard said at the time of the procedure. Now, he’ll make his return to the bench, albeit in the role of an assistant, as a part of his transition.

So far, Michigan has started the season 4-3 overall. The Wolverines beat Stanford but also sustained an embarrassing loss to Long Beach State early on.

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.