Austin Hatch On His New Role With Michigan's Basketball Team: 'It's Just a Change'

One of the most inspiring figures in collegiate sports, Austin Hatch is changing his role on the University of Michigan's (UM) basketball team.

Hatch, the survivor of two plane crashes, will serve as a student assistant coach on a medical scholarship, allowing him to remaining on the team and keep a scholarship at UM.

"This is, and has been, a very difficult decision; one that we have been discussing with Austin over the last few months," UM head men's coach John Beilein said in a news release. "Together, we made this decision at the end of the season and have been waiting for approval from the Big Ten for his status change. With the request for a medical exemption waiver approved (April 27), we are ready to move forward with the next steps in Austin's career."

Hatch told ESPN his coach brought up the idea with him at the end of last season and was immediately open to it.

"This isn't the end of my basketball career and I don't want people to look at this as if I'm quitting,'' he said. "It's just a change. It just means, if there's a minute left in the game, I won't be coming in to hit a free throw.

"It's obvious I'm not going to be a professional basketball player. But after I graduate from Michigan, I am going to be a professional at something, and this allows me to concentrate on my studies but also stay involved with the team."

Hatch suffered a severe brain injury after the second plane crash in 2011 and from that point knew his aspirations to play basketball for a living were probably over. But amazingly enough, his ability to play is not. He played in five games this past season for the Wolverines, never staying in for more than two minutes and registering just one point on a free throw against Coppin State.

As a student assistant coach, Hatch will not have the same commitment to the team, which is likely a welcomed change for him. His brain injury can make studying difficult at times.

"It won't be every day," he told ESPN. "If I have a big exam the next day, no way am I going to be there, but I can still be a big part of this team."