Leonard Hamilton, Juwan Howard's close relationship on display entering Sweet 16 clash

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Juwan Howard isn't technically in Leonard Hamilton's coaching tree.

The former Michigan Wolverine and long-time NBA player who is now the head coach at his alma mater never served as an assistant on one of Hamilton's coaching staffs.

His lone experience working alongside the Florida State head coach came when he was a member of the Washington Wizards while Hamilton was the head coach.

Their time together was brief. Hamilton was hired by Washington in June of 2000 and Howard was traded to the Dallas Mavericks the following February. Hamilton lasted just two months longer, resigning that April.

But in their brief time together, Howard saw plenty in Hamilton which made him someone he went to for advice when he took his first head coaching job at Michigan in May of 2019.

"Our relationship runs deep..." Howard said of Hamilton before their teams face off tonight in the Sweet 16.

"The respect I have for Coach as a man, as a father and also as a coach during his time coaching the University of Miami as well as Florida State. He's had amazing success so I feel he has a great knowledge for the game of basketball, people and his resume speaks for itself."

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Even though they spent about eight months together in Washington, Hamilton could tell even then that Howard had what it took to have a career in coaching whenever his playing career came to an end.

"Juwan was the ultimate professional. He always dressed appropriately, handled every little detail with the utmost focus and professionalism. He dressed like a professional. Even down to what he ate, how much rest he got, how focused he was in the locker room, his unselfish spirit," Hamilton said.

"He had all those high-character qualities that you love to see in a basketball player and that same humbleness that he operates with, the professionalism and his attention to detail, is what I think has really made Michigan an outstanding team. Juwan being Juwan."

Howard ended his playing career in 2013 after scoring 16,159 points and adding 7,428 rebounds with eight NBA teams over 19 seasons.

He was an assistant with the Miami Heat from 2013 until 2019, when he left to take his first head coaching job with the Wolverines.

He inherited a solid situation in Ann Arbor, following John Beilein, who took Michigan to national championship game losses in 2013 and 2018. But Howard has done well to build upon the solid foundation he inherited, leading the Wolverines to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1993 -- when he was on the team -- this season.

There will be plenty on the line for both Hamilton and Howard when their teams face off. Howard is looking to take UM to the Elite Eight in his first NCAA Tournament while Hamilton is two wins away from his first Final Four appearance as a head coach.

However their first matchup as opposing head coaches plays out, it won't do anything to change a relationship that both of them consider very special.

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"I've got a lot of respect for him. Anytime I get a chance to watch his team play, I do. I root for him and I'll be rooting hard for him, with the exception of when we play on Sunday," Hamilton said.

"He's one of my favorite people in the business because I know what he stands for as a person. He represents all the qualities that I think the people of Michigan can be very proud of. I think they need to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride because he's gonna take them maybe even higher than some of those places that Michigan basketball has been in the past."

No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 1 Michigan

NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

When: Sunday, 5 p.m.

Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse

TV/Radio: CBS/101.5 FM

Reach Curt Weiler at cweiler@tallahassee.com or follow him on Twitter @CurtMWeiler.

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