The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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74 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2018 M ichigan head coach John Beilein does not care for the spotlight. That is no secret, and it is what makes him unique in his profession. We've sung his praises so much here over the years that we're probably approaching "journalist stalker" status, but he's truly a unicorn in the coach- ing world — a guy who is so by the book that when the latest scandal rocked college bas- ketball to its core with alleged agent dealings, player payment, etc., his former players felt the need to share their stories about just how clean he is. "Coach Beilein wouldn't let me order tiramisu for dessert on my official visit because it was beer battered and I was only 19," former guard Spike Albrecht said via twitter Feb. 23, adding a "LOL." Future Wolverine David DeJulius of Detroit East English Vil- lage, a four-star 2018 point guard signee, weighed in with us (unso- licited) after we responded to Al- brecht's tweet. "A week after my official visit, there were a couple more recruits taking their official visits," DeJu- lius recalled. "We were at a football game. They were passing waters to them. "Coach B stared at me as they were getting passed out to make sure I didn't get a free water." There were times the strictness might have driven him nuts, former forward Zack Novak admitted. "But this is exactly why," he said after several programs were in the news for the wrong reasons. "It's very comforting to know we have Coach B." National analysts, too, are finally starting to realize what the knowl- edgeable Michigan fans have for years — Beilein is one of the best in the business the way he's been able to stick to his principles and build a winner, while not demanding any attention. Sporting News' Jack Armstrong called him "pound for pound, the best coach in college basketball," emphasizing, "and he does it the right way." "We don't make the news," Beilein shrugged before the Big Ten Tournament. "I sort of like being that guy. I want to be the guy that nobody knows — but that we keep winning, we're consistent; we're always in the hunt for a Big Ten championship or having an NCAA Tournament opportunity. "People call me [Syracuse head coach Jim] Boeheim or something like that … they don't know my name. I actually love it." He's perfect for Michigan and for college basketball, and though he's 65 years old, now's the time for ath- letics director Warde Manuel to ap- proach him about an extension. He's currently under contract through 2021, but guys like the actual Boeheim (73 years old) and Duke's Mike Krzyzewski (71) show no signs of slowing down, and Beilein is in better shape than both. Coaching is his gift, and it would be a shame to see him leave too soon. TIME TO HEAL OLD WOUNDS Another Michigan coach, meanwhile — a former one — also made the news recently. Steve Fisher retired last year after 18 seasons as San Diego State's head coach, and Beilein was asked at an NCAA press conference in Wichita, Kan., if it was time to honor the former U-M head coach. "Steve Fisher and I have been friends long back when he was Michigan's coach," Beilein said. "Steve's a close friend, and I know that's in the plans." Fisher led Michigan to the 1989 national championship af- ter Bill Frieder accepted the Ari- zona State job. Athletics director Bo Schembechler made Fisher's position permanent after the run. He led the Fab Five to two other national title games, but the well documented Ed Martin booster scandal led to his firing a week before practice began for the 1997-98 season. Beilein declined to elaborate when asked how he planned to bring Fisher back. "I'd rather keep it right there," he said. "He's a great friend, and he did a fantastic job at Michigan. … We're always thinking how we can bring former coaches and former players back. "He's been coaching at San Diego State, so he could never make it back to some of our reunions. That's something we're very hopeful to do in the future." Next year would be the perfect opportunity, the 30th anniversary of the 1989 title. And it's time. Fisher's coaching job that year as an interim coach remains one of the best stories in NCAA history, and he deserves to be honored with the team he coached to a title. ❏ Chris Balas has been with The Wolver- ine since 1997, working part time for five years before joining the staff full time in 2002. Contact him at cbalas@ thewolverine.com and follow him on Twitter @Balas_Wolverine. INSIDE MICHIGAN CHRIS BALAS It's Time (Again) For An Extension John Beilein, now 65 years old, is signed to coach at Michigan through the 2020‑21 season. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN