Dusty May has built his coaching career the hard way. From a modest role with the Indiana Hoosiers to stops at USC, Eastern Michigan, UAB, Florida and Florida Atlantic, the road to Michigan was anything but straight.
But the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball program looks like his kind of place right now and Saturday made that case loud and clear. Michigan dismantled top-seeded Arizona Wildcats 91-73 in the Final Four, running their record to 36-3 and booking a spot in the national title game against the Connecticut Huskies.
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The Wolverines played exactly the kind of basketball May has built his reputation on, which is fluid, engaged and free-flowing. Modern college basketball in every sense.
Michigan head coach Dusty May and assistant coach and general manager Kyle ChurchJunfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Dusty May Is Staying at Michigan After North Carolina Snub
Now, with a championship on the line, the question following May isn’t just about the trophy. It’s about whether he’ll be back next season.
Speculation linking May to the North Carolina Tar Heels head coaching vacancy has been making the rounds, but according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, May has told Michigan officials he is not pursuing any other jobs.
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May addressed the North Carolina chatter directly and explained why he let it sit without immediately shutting it down. It came down to a lesson he learned the hard way last year.
“After last year, I decided I’ll never respond to any job speculation,” May said, per ESPN. “I had already agreed to terms with Michigan, was 100 percent done, and I made the comment that I was flattered about a certain job opening because of my background, and that was misconstrued, so I just decided I’m never going to comment on any job that I don’t have. I think it’s well documented how happy I am at Michigan.”
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That’s about as clear as it gets. May isn’t leaving, and he didn’t leave much room for interpretation beyond that. His family is settled, he’s comfortable with his staff and the program is thriving. Those aren’t the conditions that push a coach out the door.
He did leave one door technically open. If Michigan ever moves on from him, he’d consider his options then. But that’s a hypothetical nobody in Ann Arbor is entertaining right now, not with a national title game still to play.
Related: Yaxel Lendeborg Announces Injury Update Ahead of National Championship Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
