It might be the heart of the college basketball season, but the sport was hit with some stunning news on Monday. According to ESPN, Michigan head coach Dusty May is headed to the NBA to be the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
The news comes just a couple months after May led the Wolverines to a national championship season, marking the first title since 1989 for Michigan. Obviously given how late it is in the coaching carousel cycle puts Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel behind the eight-ball.
Or perhaps not. On Monday afternoon, On3's Pete Nakos reported that Michigan is expected to promote current Wolverine assistant Mike Boynton to replace May. ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeff Borzello also reported the news. He has been on Michigan's staff since 2024, previously serving as Oklahoma State's head coach from 2017-2024. His name likely rings a bell for South Carolina Gamecock fans.
He has spent the last two decades in collegiate coaching, starting at Furman from 2004-05 before various stops at the likes of Coastal Carolina, Wofford, Stephen F. Austin. He spent the longest of those stints as an assistant for the Gamecocks from 2008-2013, serving under coaches Dave Odom and Frank Martin.
Before his college coaching days, Boyton played point guard for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2000-2004. He played in 125 career games for the Gamecocks, and helped South Carolina make the NCAA Tournament in 2004. He had his best season as a senior that year, averaging 9.9 points per game with 3.4 assists and 2.9 rebounds.
His stint as Oklahoma State's head coach for seven seasons didn't go all too well, finishing 119-102 overall, and making the NCAA Tournament just once. But Coach May had high praise for Boyton , whom he hired when he arrived at Michigan, earlier this year.
“He’s an elite basketball coach,” May said about Boynton in April via On3 Sports. “He did a really good job at Oklahoma State, especially considering the circumstances, and I’m not going to go on that soapbox. But he’s just as good as I am. I’m the head coach at Michigan. He’s just as good as I am. He’s just as prepared. He’s been invaluable for me.”
Not to mention Manuel wasting no time and making Boyton May's replacement so quickly means there is a lot of trust there. Hiring someone already on-staff might help Michigan avoid as many transfer portal losses with May's departure, as well. Boynton was also the head coach for the United States' national U19 team, and coached the likes of former No. 1 overall pick and Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham at OK-State.
At Michigan, Boyton will have plenty of resources to help him with recruiting, both on the recruiting trail and in retaining talent. After winning a national title in just his second season under May, the expectations are clearly high for Boynton.
South Carolina and Michigan fans alike are hoping he can build off the success May had in just a couple of short seasons.
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