The pinnacle of Dusty May’s coaching career on the court came 367 days ago, when he led Florida Atlantic to a victory over Kansas State in the 2023 NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight to land the Owls in their first Final Four.
With May coming off a red-hot season at a mid-major not known as a basketball school, it seemed exactly the formula for an instant exit, to rocket to a Power Five program.
Instead, he returned to Boca Raton, Florida, and led the Owls to yet another NCAA tournament (albeit a one-and-done appearance last week). That commitment, even for a single additional year, resonated with Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel.
Six years at FAU, he could’ve left last year,” Manuel said Tuesday afternoon. “He was the hottest coach out there last year and he decided to stay with those kids. That says a lot to me about a person without having to speak any words.”
Nevertheless, May had plenty of words Tuesday when he was introduced as the 18th Michigan basketball coach in program history at the Junge Champions Center in Ann Arbor.
