Former University of Michigan head coach John Beilein shocked the basketball world earlier this month by announcing that he was leaving Ann Arbor to become the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Beilein spent 12 seasons at Michigan, building Big Blue into one of the best basketball programs in the country and making a pair of Final Four appearances in 2013 and 2018. He had become one of the most beloved figures on campus, and his departure left a gaping hole at the top of Michigan's program. Who would fill that void?

In a blast from the past, the Wolverines hired former “Fab Five” member Juwan Howard to replace Beilein. Howard spent three seasons at Michigan before heading to the NBA, where he was a one-time All-Star and averaged 13.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in 18 years in the league.

Upon retiring, Howard immediately became an assistant coach on Erik Spoelstra's staff with the Miami Heat, where Howard had played the final three seasons of his career.

And Howard apparently was presented with an opportunity to take the next step in his NBA coaching career, as he revealed during his introduction as Michigan head coach that he had been offered the associate head coaching position with the Minnesota Timberwolves:

Though this certainly would have been an interesting opportunity for Howard, the Timberwolves just made 33-year-old interim coach Ryan Saunders their permanent head coach after he received ringing endorsements from many of the young players on the roster.

Instead, Howard will look to retain Michigan's level of excellence that they experienced under Beilein.