Michigan basketball coach John Beilein works against Penn State on Jan. 2, 2016, at the Crisler Center.
The off-season shuffle continues with the Michigan basketball staff.
Following the announcement that director of operations Pete Kahler was hired as an assistant coach at Detroit Mercy under former U-M assistant Bacari Alexander, Michigan has hired Ann Arbor Huron coach Waleed Samaha to fill the position.
“We have taken great pride having a staff of high-character and professional people,” U-M coach John Beilein said in a released statement. “We are continuing that trend by hiring Waleed. Since I arrived in Ann Arbor almost 10 years ago, I was immediately impressed by Waleed as a husband, father, coach, principal and Michigan alum. He has served Huron High School and the Ann Arbor community with tremendous class and his work ethic. His passion for the University of Michigan will only benefit us as we continue to move forward with our program.”
In 14 seasons as the head coach at Huron, Samaha’s teams went 229-86, winning seven league championships and six district titles, plus a state runner-up finish.
“First and foremost, as a Michigan graduate, it means the world to be able to come back and work with one of the best basketball minds in the entire country in John Beilein,” Samaha said in the statement. “The opportunity to join a program with such great history and to be part of the Michigan athletic department is humbling and exciting.
“I never imagined I would leave Huron. I now know the meaning of bittersweet. When I took a moment to reflect on this opportunity, I was so excited. However, at the same time, I also realized I would be leaving an amazing place, filled with great teachers and some incredibly talented students. They are all part of my family, and even though I am leaving them, that will never change. They will all be part of my life forever.”
Also today, Beilein promoted Bryan Smothers, who was a graduate manager the past two years, to video coordinator. He replaces Will Vergollo, who left to become an assistant at Milwaukee under former U-M assistant LaVall Jordan.
Michigan offers 2018 recruit Brandon Johns, calls other juniors
Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder. Download our Wolverines Xtra appon iTunesandAndroid!