After twelve years with the program, Michigan coach John Beilein is officially leaving Ann Arbor for the city of Cleveland. It was announced this morning that he signed a five-year deal to coach the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Tom Izzo declined this job in 2010. Notably, it was rumored last year that Beilein also interviewed with the Detroit Pistons.
Selfishly, I am delighted at this news, only in that, it weakens one of Michigan State’s biggest adversaries. Beilein was a heck of a coach and resurrected the Michigan basketball program and made it competitive again. Ultimately, while I’m glad to see a rival team lose an asset like Beilein, his presence was great for the overall state of basketball in Michigan.
There are so many awesome prospects that come out of the state of Michigan. Lansing, Flint, Detroit, Muskegon, and Grand Rapids all have been known to produce high-level talent. Having a second top tier program like Beilein’s Michigan team meant more local talent wouldn’t leave the state for greener pastures. It also helped revive an awesome basketball rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State, one that had been overshadowed by the football rivalry for years.
For more on the rivalry between Izzo and Beilein, check out Wil Hunter’s piece from earlier today, breaking down their rivalry by the numbers.
