Juwan Howard is out in Ann Arbor and Dusty May is in after agreeing to a five-year deal with Michigan that will pay him $3.75 million annually.
May’s hiring was announced Sunday by Michigan, a move that brings him back to his Big Ten roots and ends his six-season stint that included a Final Four run a year ago at Florida Atlantic.
‘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 said.
‘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.’
May was reportedly under consideration at Louisville, which will now have to turn its attention to other candidates to resurrect that once-proud program.
Michigan President Santa Ono announced the hiring on Saturday night in a social media post. May told his now-former team at FAU the news on Sunday morning, shortly before Michigan’s announcement.
May will replace Howard, a former Michigan star who was fired after five seasons with the Wolverines. Howard went 82-67 with two NCAA Tournament appearances, but the Wolverines went 8-24 this season — the school’s worst record since 1960-61.
Barely 24 hours after FAU’s season was done, Michigan put its turnaround task in May’s hands.
The speculation about May’s future started long before now — it really has been a constant for more than a year. He was touted as a rising coaching candidate last season after a 20-game winning streak thrust FAU into the national spotlight for the first time. And then the NCAA run to the Final Four, where the Owls were a bounce away from making it to the national championship game against Connecticut, only further validated the sense that May was ready for the biggest of big time.
FAU did what it could last year to keep May, signing him shortly after the Final Four run to a 10-year extension. He earned $1.25 million in base salary this season, plus an additional $25,000 for making the NCAA Tournament. FAU is due a $1 million buyout now that May has decided to leave.
May got questions about his future for the last several weeks, including when FAU lost to Northwestern on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tourney. His stance never wavered: His plan was to listen to those who called, then decide what was best.
And Michigan evidently made him the offer that he couldn’t decline.
‘College basketball is very fluid. Just click on Twitter to see,’ May said after FAU’s loss on Friday. ‘No idea what’s next for anybody in our locker room. I love it at FAU. I love coaching these guys, and that’s it.’
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