HEARTBREAK IN THE FINAL SECONDS : What happened to longtime coach and key contributor to Michigan basketball…

One of the longest-serving members of the Michigan men’s basketball staff has quietly ceased working with the team.

Jon Sanderson, the strength and conditioning coach recognized for his transformative work with Wolverines’ players for over 15 years, has reportedly not been involved with the team since a disagreement with head coach Juwan Howard in early December.

This departure is regrettable, and the school’s lack of comment on the matter adds an element of mystery to the situation.

When John Beilein arrived at Michigan in 2007, he sought a strength coach with a deep understanding of basketball. While Beilein didn’t directly hire Sanderson, he recommended him, and Sanderson joined the team in 2009.

Sanderson is acknowledged on the official Michigan Athletics website as “regarded as one of the top strength and conditioning coaches in the business,” a reputation well-earned. He is renowned for transforming slender prospects into powerful and agile talents, consistently turning less-heralded recruits and athletes into NBA first-round draft picks, as seen with Trey Burke, Nik Stauskas, Caris LeVert, D.J. Wilson, and Jordan Poole.

Remaining one of the few staff members retained by Howard when he assumed the coaching position in 2019, Sanderson’s departure is notable. The only person with a longer tenure on the bench is athletic trainer Bob Bland, who has been with Michigan since 1987.

According to multiple reports, a non-physical confrontation occurred between Howard and Sanderson before a practice, stemming from a disagreement involving a trainer and senior forward Jace Howard, Juwan’s son. Some reports suggest that Howard and Sanderson had to be separated during the incident.

Staff members present during the dispute were part of a university investigation, instructed not to speak to reporters. Those not present claimed limited knowledge of the events.

Since the incident, Sanderson has not been working with the team, as reported by multiple players. He was absent from Michigan’s subsequent game on December 10 at Iowa and has not been observed at any games since. During games, Sanderson’s boss and Michigan’s strength and conditioning director, Mike Favre, have taken his place on the bench.

Sanderson has not responded to multiple requests for comment via text messages and phone calls. MLive submitted a records request to the university for more information on the alleged incident, and the university, in line with its usual practice, delayed its response, eventually requesting payment to fulfill the request. The process to produce the requested materials is ongoing.

According to an inside source, Sanderson is still employed but may have been reassigned within the athletic department, possibly working with other athletes at the school.

After Michigan’s football team won the Rose Bowl on January 1, an inquiry was made to Doug Gnodtke, an executive associate athletic director, who confirmed Sanderson’s employment and mentioned that the situation “would be worked out soon.” Rob Rademacher, a senior associate AD, declined to comment on the situation after the national championship a week later.

At the time of the incident with Sanderson, Howard, who underwent offseason heart surgery, had not yet returned as Michigan’s full-time coach. On December 15, athletic director Warde Manuel released a statement announcing Howard’s return and absolving him of any wrongdoing.

“The return of our usual coaching structure comes after a review of an incident involving several individuals during a team practice last week,” Manuel said in the statement. “Based on a thorough internal review, nothing was found to warrant disciplinary action for anyone involved. As such, we will move forward with a focus on our team and our season.”

Following Michigan’s win over Eastern Michigan at Crisler Center the next day, Howard, when asked if he wanted to add anything to Manuel’s statement, referred back to it and mentioned an ongoing review.

However, Manuel’s statement did not reference Sanderson or any additional review. The impact of Sanderson’s departure on the program over the years is challenging to quantify, but Howard had previously expressed appreciation for his contributions.

“Jon is one of the best strength and conditioning coaches in the country on the collegiate level,” Howard said after a game in 2021, highlighting Sanderson’s experience as a college basketball player, his role in recruiting, and his contribution to player development.

“Jon Sanderson was one of my first hires when I got the job,” he said. “He’s a huge part of our team’s success.”

Despite this, it seems that Michigan basketball has moved forward without him.