The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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12 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2018 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS JOHN BEILEIN OFFICIALLY SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH MICHIGAN On July 18, Michigan men's basket- ball coach John Beilein signed a con- tract extension that will keep him in Ann Arbor through the 2022-23 sea- son and conceivably beyond. The new five-year rollover deal is a bit unique in that it will extend one additional year and repeat each season until either Beilein or Michigan expresses an inter- est not to have it renewed. According to a report from The Ath- letic in June, the U-M head man will also receive a financial raise from $3.37 million to just less than $4 million an- nually. "I am grateful for the opportunity the University of Michigan has given to me over the past 11 years," Beilein said in a statement. "Kathleen [his wife] and I love Ann Arbor, our university, our fans and the state of Michigan. We will con- tinue to work very hard in the future to have our basketball team reflect the greatness of this university. "I thank [President] Mark Schlissel and [director of athletics] Warde Man- uel for their faith and commitment to our coaching staff and basketball program. The future of men's basket- ball is bright and I am excited to be a part of it." During Beilein's 11 years in Ann Ar- bor, the Wolverines have won two Big Ten regular-season titles, two confer- ence tournament championships and have made two appearances in the national title game. His 248 wins are also the most in pro- gram history, with a school-record 33 of them coming last season. Michigan will begin its 2018-19 sea- son Nov. 6 against Norfolk State. QUINN HUGHES WILL RETURN TO U-M FOR SOPHOMORE SEASON On July 28, Michigan ice hockey de- fenseman Quinn Hughes announced he would be shunning the NHL and returning to U-M for his sophomore campaign. Hughes was selected by the Van- couver Canucks with the No. 7 overall pick in the NHL Draft June 22 and con- templated his future for the ensuing month. "My heart is obviously still at Michi- gan," he said upon his return. "I was heartbroken when we lost to Notre Dame in the Frozen Four last year. I have never really been on a team that cares so much about each other, and I think that's a big reason why I'm coming back, because I love my team- mates." Hughes' outstanding freshman sea- son was a big reason the Wolverines reached the national semifinals in head coach Mel Pearson's debut campaign. He tallied five goals, 24 assists — the most in school history by a freshman defenseman — and 29 points, earn- ing All-Big Ten second-team honors as a result. The Orlando, Fla., native also made the Big Ten All-Freshman team, the All-College Hockey News Rookie squad and was a finalist for the confer- ence's Rookie of the Year award. "I can say that everyone involved with Michigan hockey is extremely ex- cited to know Quinn has decided to return to the University of Michigan for another season," Pearson added. "He was one of college hockey's best players last year and I look forward to his continued development both on and off the ice." ESPN TABS FOUR WOLVERINES TO ITS TOP 50 LIST ESPN released its list of the top 50 players in college football heading into the 2018 season Aug. 6, and four Wolverines made the cut. The website tabbed junior defensive end Rashan Gary as the No. 8 player in the entire country, junior linebacker Devin Bush was No. 22, junior quarter- back Shea Patterson checked in at No. 25 and fifth-year senior defensive end Chase Winovich made the cut in the No. 46 hole. ESPN pegged Gary as the second- best defensive end in the nation and Winovich sixth at the position, while hailing Bush as the top linebacker in the Football Bowl Subdivision and Pat- terson the No. 9 signal-caller. Noticeably absent from the list were junior viper Khaleke Hudson, and ju- nior cornerbacks David Long and La- vert Hill. Seven athletes Michigan will face on the field in 2018 also made the compilation, including Ohio State ju- nior defensive end Nick Bosa (No. 6), sophomore running back J.K. Dob- bins (No. 23) and redshirt sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins (No. 32); Wisconsin sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor (No. 7), redshirt ju- nior right tackle David Edwards (No. 42) and fifth-year senior linebacker T.J. Edwards (No. 43); and Penn State fifth- year senior quarterback Trace McSor- ley (No. 9). — Austin Fox Hughes will return for his sophomore campaign despite being selected with the No. 7 over- all pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK