John Beilein : All posts

Neighbors give Michigan coach John Beilein proper homecoming after runner-up finish

The neighbors of Michigan men's basketball coach John Beilein lined his street with decorations to welcome him home after the team's run to the national championship game.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Michigan's John Beilein to take part in Coaches vs. Cancer clinic on Sept. 22

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein will be a guest speaker/instructor next month during the 14th annual "Knights Basketball Coaching Academy," an event that will benefit the Coaches vs. Cancer cause.

Analyst explains why Michigan basketball commit Zak Irvin is now on the verge of five-star status

A year ago, current Michigan basketball freshman Glenn Robinson III made a name for himself after a strong summer skyrocketed his national recruiting status.

Robinson followed that up with an impressive senior season, and ended his high school career as a five-star, blue-chip prospect.

A year later, current 2013 Michigan commit Zak Irvin appears to have a shot at repeating that process.

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein ranked No. 18 on Athlon's top coaches list, Tom Izzo No. 1

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein made Athlonsports.com's list of the top college coaches in America.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Beilein made Athlonsports.com's list of the country's top college basketball coaches, coming in at No. 18 overall.

"He’s one of eight coaches and four active coaches to take four teams to the NCAA Tournament (Canisius, Richmond, West Virginia, Michigan)," the site wrote. "At each of those stops, Beilein pulled the program out of an extended rough patch.

"While he doesn’t have a national championship like (Tom) Izzo, an extended track Big Ten track record like (Bo) Ryan, and Final Fours like (Thad) Matta and (Tom) Crean, an argument could be made he deserves to be at or near the top of any Big Ten coach rankings."

WDFN-AM: John Beilein discusses strategy in recruiting 'one-and-done'-type players to Michigan basketball team

Michigan coach John Beilein has restocked the Wolverines' program with top-shelf talent. The trick is hanging onto it. Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

But as the Wolverines climb the rungs of college basketball, they will continue to encounter an issue that has been raised the past three years: The possibility these players leave early for the NBA.

Michigan basketball staff approaching unlimited text/call recruiting rule with caution

When the clock struck midnight on June 15, John Beilein wasn't sure if college basketball's new world was real or not.

Beginning last month, the Michigan basketball coaching staff -- and every other staff in America -- got the green light to call and text prospective recruits whenever they wanted.

No time restraints. No quantity restrictions. No rules, really.

"It's still hard to believe," Beilein said last week. "It's just much easier to communicate, but I know we'll do everything we can to keep it (under control)."

John Beilein insists his recruiting philosophy hasn't changed, but his 'battles' have gotten bigger

John Beilein has gained large amounts of national recruiting momentum over the past year.

AnnArbor.com file photo

John Beilein says nothing's changed with his fundamental approach to recruiting.

He wants players that fit his unique offensive system, players that can play multiple spots on the floor and prospects that are willing to "run through the door" to become part of the Michigan basketball program.

During his days at West Virginia, Beilein built a contender with mainly unheralded recruits -- program guys who bought into what he was selling.

Now about to enter his sixth year at Michigan, he insists the basics are still the same -- even if the pool he swims in is quite a bit deeper.

"(In recruiting) you have to pick your battles," Beilein told reporters recently. "The battles we're choosing, they may be a little larger."

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein expects his 5 freshmen to adapt quicker than usual

Earlier this month, John Beilein welcomed his most highly-touted recruiting class to Ann Arbor.

The Michigan basketball team's 2012 five-man crop of Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson III, Nik Stauskas, Caris LeVert and Spike Albrecht -- a top 10 class nationally -- reported to campus last weekend to officially begin their Wolverine careers.

And while Beilein is excited about the group's talent and capabilities, he's perhaps more excited about their maturity level.

"I have a sense that they will assimilate and they'll be able to embrace this culture early," Beilein said earlier this week. "They'll be able to embrace our culture earlier -- because of the numbers and you've got three guys who have been to prep school.

"Nik Stauskas has been away from home since he was 15 years old, between two different prep schools. It's not all new to them, as it was last year with the four freshmen."

Michigan's John Beilein committed to his favorite charity: Chelsea's St. Louis Center

It didn't take long for John Beilein to cross paths with the St. Louis Center.

Shortly after accepting the Michigan basketball head coaching position in 2007 and subsequently moving to Ann Arbor, Beilein began hearing about the Chelsea-based facility in passing.

And now, five years later, he's fully entrenched in the St. Louis Center's mission -- and is one of its biggest ambassador.

"In some of the other places I've been, it's always the fourth or fifth year when you really get a chance to meet people and know the culture of the city," Beilein said Tuesday. "Whether it was Buffalo, Richmond, West Virginia -- now, it's been five years, the same house, meeting people, it's really (allowed you to) get more ingrained in the culture. And the St. Louis Center is part of the culture of this area.

"I'm going to help it become (part of the culture), I don't think a lot of people knew it even existed."

Michigan basketball's 2013 recruiting class keeps rising, now rated No. 2 nationally by ESPN.com

There's no sense in ignoring it, John Beilein has some major momentum going on the recruiting trail.

That momentum was quantified Wednesday when Beilein's four-man 2013 Michigan basketball recruiting class climbed all the way up to No. 2 in ESPN.com's updated ranking.

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein's son, Patrick, hired as head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan

Like father, like son.

Patrick Beilein, the son of Michigan basketball coach John Beilein, was hired as head basketball coach at West Virginia Wesleyan, a Division II school in Buckhannon, W.V., on Sunday.

The college confirmed the hiring in a news release.

"I have always wanted to be a head coach at the collegiate level and I thank President (Pamela) Balch and Athletic Director Randy Tenney for this opportunity," Beilein said in a statement. "I am really looking forward to the challenges in front of us and am very happy to be coaching the Bobcats, as well as coming back to the great state of West Virginia."

Michigan basketball John Beilein defends transfer policy, says attrition is 'probably here to stay'

It's been a rather intense offseason for John Beilein and the Michigan basketball program.

Trey Burke almost left, three players opted to transfer and two more recruits have joined the ranks.

Intense, no doubt.

But strange? No, not really.

"I think it's more like the way the business is right now," Beilein said. "Between transfers or guys going pro, the flexibility and changing rosters (are) probably here to stay."

Michigan coach John Beilein has no preference on protected B1G basketball rivalries, Michigan State included

Would a season featuring just one Michigan vs. Michigan State basketball game be a bad thing?

If the Big Ten makes it so, then Michigan coach John Beilein says he'll be fine with it.

"Either way, there's so many different elements in that scheduling," Beilein told reporters Thursday at the William Davidson Player Development Center. "I think the Big Ten knows best, and I'll do whatever they say.

"I don't have a preference -- what's good for the league is good for Michigan."

Michigan clarifies John Beilein's preference on transfer destinations

Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan made national news this week with his decision to restrict former Badger forward Jarrod Uthoff's ability to transfer to the school of his choosing.

Ryan originally put together a list of 26 schools, including the entire Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference, that Wisconsin would not release Uthoff to, drawing national criticism in the process.

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein was then folded into the debate on Thursday by CBSsports.com's Jeff Goodman, who -- via Twitter -- compared Beilein's handling of transfer Evan Smotrycz to that of Ryan's actions with Uthoff.

Notebook: Tim Hardaway Jr. all in for Michigan, Jon Horford healthy and John Beilein talks schedule

Immediately following the Michigan basketball team's NCAA Tournament loss to Ohio last month, Tim Hardaway Jr. emphatically declared he'd be returning for his junior season.

A week later, in an interview with the Detroit News, Tim Hardaway Sr. (currently working as a scout for the Miami Heat) reaffirmed the point, saying his son "wasn't going anywhere."

Just in case anyone hadn't gotten the point yet, minutes after teammate Trey Burke announced his plans to return for his sophomore season, Hardaway told reporters he didn't even seek information with regard to his NBA draft status.

That came as no surprise to Michigan coach John Beilein.

"Not at all," Beilein said. "Tim and I talk about this all the time, and his dad and I talk about it on occasion as well."

John Beilein comments on attrition, says it's all 'part of the game'

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein answers questions from the media during a press conference at the Crisler Center on Monday.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

John Beilein is getting used to spring uncertainty.

Each of the past three seasons, the Michigan basketball coach has watched underclassmen explore the idea of leaving school early for the NBA (he has a 1-for-3 return-rate now, by the way).

This year, Beilein watched as three players -- Evan Smotrycz, Carlton Brundidge and Colton Christian -- opted to leave his program last month in search of transfers.

Is he worried? Not really.

Is he surprised? Not at all.

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein addresses Trey Burke situation, calls early-exit reports premature

Michigan point guard Trey Burke, right, is projected to be the 39th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, according to one website.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

For the first time since the season ended, Michigan basketball coach John Beilein made a public comment on his current point guard situation.

In a blog post written Thursday on MGoBlue.com, the Michigan athletic department's official website, Beilein addressed the speculation and reports surrounding current Wolverine point guard Trey Burke.

And he reports, as of now, no decision has been made on Burke's future.

"I would like to note that Wednesday's reports of Trey Burke's decision to enter the NBA draft were premature," Beilein wrote. "My coaching staff and I have met with Trey and his parents several times over the past two weeks.

"Collectively, we have gathered and shared with each of them some necessary information that we feel will help Trey make the most informed decision for his future."

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein drops by Yahoo! Sports Radio, Trey Burke not discussed

The Michigan basketball program took a major step forward this season, but ended the year with a large thud.

In the end, does John Beilein see the 2011-12 campaign as a disappointment?

"No," Beilein told Yahoo! Sports Radio on Thursday. "Absolutely not."

B1G Tournament: Minnesota or Northwestern? John Beilein doesn't care, he'll just prep for both

Stu Douglass, right, and the Michigan basketball team will face either Minnesota or Northwestern and freshman guard Dave Sobolewski, left, in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal on Friday.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

In a former life, John Beilein's brain would already be in "win, or go home" mode.

As a former head coach at NCAA mid-major schools Canisius and Richmond, conference tournament time used to mean everything.

"From the world I came from," Beilein said. "Winning the (conference) tournament was the only way you got to the NCAA (Tournament)."

Lessons in Michigan athletics: Hoke, Brandon and Beilein to offer seminar for business execs

Michigan head coach John Beilein claps on the sidelines during the Michigan-Ohio State game at Crisler Center.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

University of Michigan athletics has had a good year.