Boynton Leads Michigan Interim
Michigan Appoints Mike Boynton Interim Coach After Dusty May Leaves for Dallas Mavericks
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Key Points
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Mike Boynton, who will serve as Michigan's interim head coach, previously led Oklahoma State from 2017–2024 to a 119-109 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021, and is widely credited with recruiting Cade Cunningham to the Cowboys.
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Michigan's returning core and newcomers include Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney, along with transfers Moustapha Thiam (Cincinnati), J.P. Estrella (Tennessee) and Jalen Reed (LSU); the 2027 class is described as top-five, led by five-star Brandon McCoy.
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The 2027 recruiting class for Michigan is characterized as a six-man group, highlighting the program’s emphasis on depth for the coming year.
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Michigan faces the reality of being the program’s third different coach in four seasons, underscoring a high-turnover period for leadership in Ann Arbor.
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May's departure is connected to NBA opportunities, with reports of interest in players such as Yazel Lendeborg and context that a recruitment-focused transition could unfold as the Mavericks look to capitalize on Michigan’s roster and NIL landscape.
Michigan has named Mike Boynton Jr. as interim head coach just hours after Dusty May agreed to coach the Dallas Mavericks, 247Sports reported on June 22. May leaves Ann Arbor with a stunning 64-13 record and a national title — Michigan's first since 1989 — after just two seasons.
The move makes Boynton, 44, the program's third different head coach in four years. Athletic Director Warde Manuel is under immediate pressure. A 15-day transfer portal window opens just five days after a new coach is officially named, Sports Illustrated reported, meaning roster decisions could come fast.
From Assistant Coach to Interim Leader Overnight
Boynton joined May's staff in May 2024 as lead assistant and defensive coordinator after seven seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State, according to Yahoo Sports. He built Michigan into the nation's top-ranked defense in 2026, per KenPom metrics. May himself called Boynton an "elite basketball coach" during the Final Four run.
At Oklahoma State, Boynton went 119-109 from 2017 to 2024 — a .522 winning percentage. His biggest achievement there was recruiting Cade Cunningham, the 2021 NBA draft's No. 1 overall pick. That recruiting pedigree matters now. Detroit News reported that Boynton is already popular with Michigan's current players, making him the strongest candidate to prevent a roster exodus.
May's Championship Exit Stuns a Program He Just Built
May's departure is a rare move in college sports. He leaves immediately after winning a title, chasing the chance to coach Cooper Flagg, the 2025 NBA draft's No. 1 pick and reigning Rookie of the Year, in Dallas. The Mavericks fired Jason Kidd earlier this year after a 26-56 season, despite an NBA Finals appearance in 2024.
The exit stings because of how public May's promises were. On April 11, at Michigan's championship ceremony at Crisler Center, May told fans they could "rest easy" about his future, Detroit News reported. ESPN analyst Bobby Marks called the hire a "coup for the Mavericks," saying May can maximize talent at any level.
Transfer Portal Clock Is Already Ticking for Michigan
The stakes of this transition are enormous. Under NCAA rules adopted in January, a 15-day transfer window opens five days after a new coach is named. Michigan's incoming transfers — including 7'2" center Moustapha Thiam from Cincinnati and J.P. Estrella from Tennessee — could explore their options. A player like Thiam could command roughly $5 million in NIL money, according to FOX Sports.
Michigan's returning core is strong. Point guard Elliot Cadeau, the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, averaged 12.3 points and 7.5 assists during the title run and shot 38.7% from three in the NCAA Tournament. Guard Trey McKenney is seen as a national breakout candidate for 2026-27. Boynton's ability to keep these players on board is his most urgent task right now.
Permanent Hire Search Weighs Continuity Against Outside Stars
Manuel is already looking ahead to a long-term hire for the 2026-27 season. Hoops HQ reports that Boynton's .522 career record at Oklahoma State may fall short of Michigan's typical standard for a permanent head coach. Names like Billy Donovan and Josh Schertz have surfaced as possible outside targets if Boynton does not prove himself quickly enough.
The program's 2027 recruiting class adds urgency. Michigan signed a top-five class headlined by five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr., ranked No. 3 overall by Rivals. McCoy committed during the Final Four, drawn by the program's culture. 247Sports noted that preserving those six commitments — and McCoy's enthusiasm — depends heavily on how smoothly this transition plays out over the next few weeks.
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