BOCA RATON, Fla.: The lure of Michigan grew to become obvious to Dusty May not in the previous few days, however virtually 20 years in the past when he was simply beginning his teaching profession.
He was an assistant at Eastern Michigan then and shortly realized Michigan’s brand — the famed block M — was one thing that folks took huge pleasure in being related to. And when Michigan provided him an opportunity to put on it, he couldn’t say no.
May was introduced as the brand new coach at Michigan on Sunday, agreeing to a 5-12 months contract price virtually $19 million, the college mentioned. He leaves Florida Atlantic after six seasons, highlighted by a Final Four run a 12 months in the past and extra wins within the final two years than virtually anybody nationally.
“This place allowed me to be extremely selective, to take the job that was the perfect fit,” May informed The Associated Press. “I would never feel any remorse if I was at FAU forever. I almost wanted these other jobs to go away, to get filled, so I wouldn’t have a decision to make.”
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The cope with Michigan was finished Saturday night time, sooner or later after FAU misplaced to Northwestern within the NCAA Tournament. May introduced gamers at his now-former faculty in for a collection of group and particular person conferences on Sunday morning, saying afterward these talks had been “extremely tough.”
“For almost two decades, Dusty May’s proven track record as a winner, including Florida Atlantic’s magical run to a 2023 Final Four, speaks volumes about him and his coaching,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel mentioned. “We are so delighted to welcome Dusty, and his family, to the University of Michigan. He embodies the values of high integrity and outstanding character, coupled with an unparalleled understanding of the game of basketball.”
The 47-12 months-outdated May replaces Juwan Howard, a former Michigan star who was fired after 5 seasons with the Wolverines. Howard went 82-67 with two NCAA Tournament appearances, however the Wolverines went 8-24 this season — the college’s worst document since 1960-61.
FAU did what it might final 12 months to maintain May, signing him shortly after the Final Four run to a ten-12 months extension. He earned $1.25 million in base wage this season, plus an extra $25,000 for making the NCAA Tournament. FAU is due a $1 million buyout now that May has determined to go away.
“The University of Michigan has hired a phenomenal basketball coach and an even better person,” FAU athletic director Brian White mentioned. “In addition to his historic level of competitive success, Dusty built a world-class culture within our men’s basketball program; operating with a high level of integrity and representing our university and athletics department with dignity and class.”
May went 126-69 in his six years at Florida Atlantic, ending with profitable data in every of these seasons — and seeing the victories actually pile up within the final two years. The Owls went 35-4 final season on their method to the Final Four and completed this season at 25-9.
That’s 60 wins within the final two years; coming into Sunday, the one Division I males’s packages with extra victories in that span had been Houston (64) and defending nationwide champion UConn (63). FAU has the fifth-finest document of all Division I males’s groups in that stretch at 60-13, behind solely Houston (64-8), Purdue (59-10), UConn (63-11) and Charleston (58-12).
May had that kind of success at a faculty with a $33 million finances for your complete athletic division. Michigan’s deliberate athletics finances for this educational 12 months is $215 million.
Countless firsts in FAU basketball historical past got here on May’s watch, corresponding to first NCAA Tournament win, first 25-win season, first AP Top 25 look and first Final Four. FAU had precisely one season with 20 wins earlier than May got here alongside; the Owls have three now, after he was in a position to lure huge-time expertise to Boca Raton and play in a 3,000-seat enviornment that doubles because the observe court docket, a spot the place the orange paint is chipped off lots of the rims and with out lots of the facilities that high packages can boast.
May mentioned he needs to see FAU hold profitable.
“I want to turn on a game next year and see 3,000 fans going crazy for those guys on the court, those guys in the locker room, and continue to build on something that’s special,” May mentioned. “It’s different here. It’s unique. You have athletics to invigorate a student population, and that’s happened here.”
FAU was May’s first cease as a head coach. He beforehand was an assistant at Florida, Louisiana Tech, UAB, Murray State and Eastern Michigan, beginning his teaching profession as an administrative assistant and video coordinator at USC — and earlier than all that, graduating from Indiana, the place he was a supervisor beneath Bob Knight.
And now he goes again to the Big Ten, solely in maize and blue. He had Michigan ties already; his son Eli was born there when May labored at Eastern Michigan.
“That’s when I realized the magnitude of the block M, how powerful it was, how much pride people have in that symbol,” May mentioned. “Today, in this NIL era where everything is becoming almost completely transactional, that Michigan is still a place that has transformational values. NIL is important, but to me personally, I felt like everyone associated with that M had so much pride in it. That’s why this was the fit.”
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
