Michigan’s Juwan Howard suspended, fined after slapping Wisconsin coach

Juwan Howard, the head coach of men’s basketball at the University of Michigan, has been suspended and fined after slapping an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team in the head after his team’s loss on Sunday.

The Big Ten announced on Monday that Howard would be suspended for the remainder of the team’s regular season — five games — and fined $40,000, according to the Times.

Two University of Michigan players who were involved in the altercation, forwards Terrance Williams II and Moussa Diabaté, were also suspended for one game each, per the newspaper.

Additionally, Wisconsin’s head basketball coach Greg Gard was fined $10,000 and guard Jahcobi Neath was suspended for one game for their involvement in the incident. 

Additionally, Wisconsin’s head basketball coach Greg Gard was fined $10,000 and guard Jahcobi Neath was suspended for one game for their involvement in the incident, according to the Times. 

“Big Ten Conference coaches and student-athletes are expected to display the highest level of sportsmanship conduct,” Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said in a statement. “Our expectation is that the incident yesterday will provide our coaches and student-athletes with the opportunity to reflect, learn and move forward in a manner that demonstrates decorum and leadership on and off the court.”

According to the New York Times, the altercation began after Gard grabbed Howard’s right elbow in the handshake line after a game between the two teams, apparently intending to speak with him. Howard then tugged on Gard’s shirt and pointed his index finger toward Gard, beginning a heated discussion between the two coaches. 

While police officers, players and assistant coaches attempted to separate Gard and Howard, Howard slapped Wisconsin assistant coach Joe Krabbenhoft on the head, the Times reported. Players from both teams then started to push and shove one another.

In a postgame interview, Gard said Howard was upset that he called for a timeout with 15 seconds left in the game, which Wisconsin won 77-63, according to the newspaper.

Howard said he felt he had to defend himself after Gard touched him, per the Times.

In a statement, Howard, a former NBA All-Star and member of the University of Michigan’s acclaimed “Fab Five” team, apologized for his actions, the Times reported. 

“After taking time to reflect on all that happened, I realize how unacceptable both my actions and words were, and how they affected so many,” Howard said in the statement. “I am truly sorry.”

“I speak a lot about being a Michigan man and representing the University of Michigan with class and pride,” Howard added. “I did not do that, nor did I set the right example in the right way for my student-athletes. I will learn from my mistake.”