ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Less than three months after leading the Michigan Wolverines to their first national championship in 37 years, Dusty May is leaving Ann Arbor for the NBA.
University of Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel announced Tuesday (June 23) that May has departed to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, ending a brief but transformative tenure that restored the Wolverines to national prominence.
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“While we are disappointed to see Dusty leave Michigan, we are deeply grateful to the May family for the lasting impact they have made on our program and our university,” Manuel said in a statement.
May compiled a 64-13 record in two seasons, guiding Michigan to a national championship, a Big Ten regular-season title, and a Big Ten Tournament championship.
His departure comes just one day before the NBA Draft and marks one of the most significant coaching moves in recent years in college basketball.
“His leadership, vision, and belief in our student-athletes helped create a culture of excellence that made the entire Michigan community proud,” Manuel said.
The move makes May the first national championship-winning college basketball coach to leave for another job during the immediate offseason following a title since Detroit Pistons championship-winning head coach Larry Brown departed Kansas for the NBA in 1988.
Michigan’s turnaround under May was among the most dramatic in the country.
When he arrived in 2024, the Wolverines were coming off an 8-24 season under former coach and Fab Five member Juwan Howard.
Two years later, Michigan was back atop the sport.
With summer workouts beginning this week, Manuel announced that assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. will serve as interim head coach while the university evaluates its long-term options.
“Mike has been an invaluable member of our staff and a respected leader throughout his career,” Manuel said. “His experience, character, and commitment to our values make him the right person to guide the team during this transition.”
Boynton Jr., 44, joined May’s staff and quickly became one of the program’s most influential assistants, earning a reputation as the architect of Michigan’s defense.
He also brings extensive head-coaching experience, having spent seven seasons at Oklahoma State, where he led the Cowboys to an NCAA Tournament appearance and coached future Pistons No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham.
According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel, Michigan players were informed Monday that Boynton Jr. is expected to take over on an interim basis.
Michigan players have been told that this is the expected direction, per ESPN sources. https://t.co/rnZ3KkC4B6
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 22, 2026
The coaching transition comes at a critical time for the program.
Under NCAA rules, players and staff now have a limited window to explore other opportunities following a coaching change, making roster retention an immediate priority for Michigan.
The Wolverines have already lost Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara to the NBA Draft, but remain highly regarded entering next season.
Several early preseason rankings place Michigan among the nation’s top teams following its championship run.
Michigan’s incoming recruiting class includes five-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr., along with J.P. Estrella and Moustapha Thiam.
The Wolverines also hope to retain sophomore guard Trey McKenney and senior guard Elliot Cadeau, who earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
Boynton Jr. is believed to have played a significant role in recruiting several current and incoming players, which could help stabilize the roster amid uncertainty.
For Manuel, the departure presents another major coaching decision. He previously oversaw the transition from Jim Harbaugh to Sherrone Moore after Michigan’s national championship season in 2023, and he hired Howard in 2019 following John Beilein’s departure to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Whether Michigan ultimately promotes from within or conducts a national search remains to be seen.
For now, the focus shifts to maintaining the momentum generated by one of the most successful seasons in school history.
“Michigan Basketball’s tradition is as strong as ever, and our future remains bright,” Manuel said. “We will move forward with confidence, pride, and an unwavering commitment to the championship standard that defines this program.”