The University of Michigan announced Sunday that Florida Atlantic’s Dusty May has been hired as their next men’s basketball coach, agreeing to a five-year contract averaging $3.75 million annually. May replaces Juwan Howard, who was fired on March 15 after an 8-24 season.
University president Santa Ono had posted on social media: “I am thrilled to welcome Dusty May to the University of Michigan as our new head basketball coach,” while athletic director Warde Manuel said
that he was “thrilled” to welcome May: “May’s proven track record as a winner. With his ties to the Midwest, Dusty has a deep understanding of our community, recruiting landscape and basketball tradition. I am thrilled to bring in a coach who has a demonstrated ability to develop talent and build successful programs. I believe Dusty will be an exceptional leader for our student-athletes and a tremendous asset to our basketball program and university.”
May said in a statement: “The University of Michigan is among the elite institutions in the world and it is both an honor and privilege to be named its head men’s basketball coach… This was an incredibly difficult decision, however, I am deeply committed to reigniting the proud tradition of Michigan Basketball. I can’t wait to get started.”
The 47-year-old May came to FAU after serving as an assistant at Florida and Louisiana Tech. May has gone 126-69 in six years at FAU, including a 60-13 mark over the past two seasons — which only UConn and Houston have also done. May took the Owls to the Final Four and a 35-4 record in 2023, with Florida Atlantic earning a No. 8 seed this year before being eliminated in the First Round by Northwestern on Thursday. May’s team finished the season 25-9 but hadn’t lost a game by double figures until their 77-65 overtime loss to the Wildcats.
Meanwhile, Michigan has missed the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years after reaching the Sweet 16 in five of the previous six seasons.
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