ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan has named Mike Boynton Jr.head coach of the men’s basketball team, athletic director Warde Manuel announced Friday.
Boynton Jr., who spent the past two seasons as an assistant with the Wolverines, agreed to a two-year contract and will serve as the David and Meredith Kaplan Men’s Basketball Head Coach.
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He replaces Dusty May, who departed after overseeing one of the most successful two-year stretches in program history.
A proven coach returns to the top job
Boynton Jr., 42, joined Michigan in 2024 after seven seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State, where he compiled a 119-109 record, led the Cowboys to an NCAA Tournament appearance, and guided Cade Cunningham to being the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons.
Before taking over at Oklahoma State, he served as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin, South Carolina, Wofford, and Coastal Carolina, as well as with the Cowboys themselves.
Building on championship success
Boynton Jr. steps into a program riding considerable momentum.
Michigan went 64-13 during his two seasons as an assistant, winning the 2025 Big Ten Tournament title, the 2026 Big Ten regular-season championship and the program’s second NCAA championship.
The Wolverines finished 37-3 last season, a school record for victories, while posting a 19-1 conference record.
As Michigan’s defensive coordinator, Boynton helped the team lead the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
His influence extended beyond the defensive end.
Michigan produced four first-round NBA draft picks during his two seasons on staff, including three lottery selections in the 2026 draft: Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara.
Danny Wolf was a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
Boynton inherits a program that has won back-to-back Big Ten championships and enters the season as a legitimate contender for both conference and national titles, having retained all but one player (L.J. Cason) from last season and returning a projected top-10 team.