Sports Wax Episode 6: The Football Coach Who Won March Madness
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March Madness is here again — that time of year when brackets get busted, legends are born, and anything feels possible. This week’s Sports Wax tells one of the wildest and most unlikely stories in tournament history. It starts not on the hardwood, but on the gridiron.
Here’s where you can listen to the full episode:
In this episode, we go back to 1989 — to the Rose Bowl, Bo Schembechler, and a Michigan basketball team that needed a miracle. What happened next is the stuff of sports legend: a coach fired just before the NCAA Tournament, an assistant promoted to interim, and a six-game run that ended with a national championship no one saw coming.
Some highlights from this episode:
1989: Bo’s Final Rose Bowl and a Shocking Coaching Change
On New Year’s Day 1989, legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler led the Wolverines to a Rose Bowl win over USC — his last bowl victory. But Bo wasn’t done yet. As Michigan’s new athletic director, he soon made a bold move: after head basketball coach Bill Frieder accepted a job at Arizona State, Bo refused to let him coach the NCAA tournament. His famous line? “A Michigan man is going to coach Michigan.”
Enter Steve Fisher
Assistant coach Steve Fisher took the reins just before the tournament began. The team was talented — featuring future NBA players like Glen Rice and Rumeal Robinson — but few believed they could make a deep run. Michigan was nearly upset in the first round by Xavier but survived thanks to late-game heroics.
Glen Rice Catches Fire
In the regional final against Virginia, Glen Rice went off for 32 points, leading Michigan to a blowout win and a trip to the Final Four. There, they faced Illinois — a team that had beaten them twice during the regular season. This time, it was different. With the game tied in the final seconds, Sean Higgins grabbed a rebound and scored the go-ahead basket, sending Michigan to the national title game.
The Championship: Robinson’s Redemption
Against Seton Hall, the championship came down to one player: Rumeal Robinson. After missing two crucial free throws in a regular season loss, Robinson had spent weeks staying after practice, shooting 100 free throws each day with Coach Fisher rebounding. Now, with three seconds left in overtime and Michigan trailing by one, he stepped to the line.
He sank both.
Final score: 80–79. Michigan were national champions — in basketball.
The Aftermath and Legacy
Steve Fisher was named full-time head coach. Glen Rice became a top NBA draft pick and eventually won an NBA title. Rumeal Robinson’s free throws became part of Michigan lore. And Bo Schembechler? His decision not to let Frieder coach may have changed the course of Michigan basketball history.
Why This Episode Matters
This story is a reminder that, in sports, anything can happen. A fired coach. An interim fill-in. A team that wasn’t supposed to win it all. But that’s the magic of March Madness.
If you're a fan of college basketball history — or just love a great underdog story — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Listen now and relive one of the wildest runs in NCAA history.
Check out the episode here: