The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
"The whole idea when I came to Michigan was the opposite," he admit- ted. "We were always going to have veterans, we were going to maybe recruit under the radar guys who were going to stay for four years and we'd have these great senior nights. It hasn't worked that way. It's worked well, but I don't want to tell you that was my plan — to get barely top-100 guys and they'd be pros in two years. It just wasn't. But it's worked well for everybody. "I think and our staff have realized this is ever changing, whether it's transfers, injuries and now the NBA opportunities. We just adjust. But I can't tell you that one day [we ex- pected this], because we really haven't changed a great deal. We're still trying to recruit the kid that fits Michigan and is a good enough player to help us." FROM NO-NAMES TO HOUSEHOLD NAMES But oh, how the profile of that kid has changed. Beilein inherited a two- man class of point guard Kelvin Grady and future pro and wing Manny Har- ris in his first year, both agreeing to honor their commitments after head coach Tommy Amaker's firing. Beilein was behind the eight ball in starting late with his next class and brought Beilein has led Michigan to five NCAA Tournaments in his seven seasons as head coach, with two Big Ten titles and a national championship game appearance. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN