Michigan's John Beilein is reportedly leaving to coach the Cavaliers
John Beilein is headed for a new spot on the Lake Erie coast.
The Michigan men's basketball head coach has reportedly accepted a five-year contact to become the Cleveland Cavaliers' head coach, league sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Beilein spent 12 years leading the Wolverines to two NCAA tournament runner-up finishes, and ended this past season with a Sweet Sixteen appearance.
Beilein has discussed NBA coaching jobs in the past, interviewing for the Detroit Pistons' head coaching job last year. He also was considered for a job with the Orlando Magic, but "Beilein didn't want to move his wife that far from Michigan," so he returned to the Wolverines, ESPN writes.
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Cleveland is just a few hours down the road, and is in desperate need of a rebuild following LeBron James' departure last year. The team is nearly at the bottom of the NBA's Eastern Conference, while Beilein has a solid 278-150 record with Michigan. It's also an ideal transition for Beilein, who has never held an assistant job since his first high school coaching gig in 1975. From Newfane High School near Buffalo, New York, he moved across upstate to other upstate Division II spots and landed his first Division I coaching position at Buffalo's Canisius College. He also enjoyed two five-year stints at the University of Richmond and West Virginia University.
