Michigan coach John Beilein says he will continue to try and contact Western's Steve Hawkins

Michigan basketball coach John Beilein said he has attempted to reach Western Michigan coach Steve Hawkins after Hawkins accused Beilein of tampering with assistant coach LaVall Jordan.

As of Thursday afternoon, Beilein had yet to reach the Broncos head coach, but will keep trying.

“I called yesterday and I know I will again,” Beilein said. “It’s been very busy. I called yesterday after his statement and I will call (again) and there will probably be a limit on the number of phone calls I will make to him, but I will continue to call Steve and try to clear it up.”

Beilein reiterated he did not initiate a phone call with Jordan. Jordan said when he heard about the chance to work at Michigan, he went and talked with Hawkins.

He left Western for Michigan days after accepting an offer to be an assistant coach there.

“Can’t control timing, none of us can,” Jordan said. “But there was an excitement level on my part. I’m fired up. I believe in this program and this university and I’m excited.”

Jordan had been set to become an assistant at Western Michigan, and Hawkins said he had even been introduced to the Western players. The Kalamazoo Gazette, reported Jordan had a nameplate on his office door.

Hawkins, later in the Gazette piece, accused Beilein of “tampering” and acting in an unethical manner in hiring Jordan.

“Coach Hawkins and I obviously had a misunderstanding, which I stated about and coach to coach, I’ll deal with it from here,” Beilein said.

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein