Just when the coaching carousel reached its summer slumber, Dusty May’s departure for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks woke it right back up.
Just two-and-a-half months after leading Michigan to the 2026 NCAA championship in his second year as coach, May leaves open one of the Big Ten’s coveted jobs with a slew of resources strengthened by his two-year resuscitation of the program.
The champagne hangover of a national championship also raises the expectations for the next head coach of Michigan, whoever that may be, from a fan base and donors who want to see Michigan continue its winning ways.
Complicating the hiring search are the fact the hiring cycle has largely settled, which limits the pool of candidates. And after May and his staff already built a roster capable of a repeat bid, the next coach will have to find a way to keep that talent around as May’s departure threatens to pull the group apart.
The Detroit News takes a look at three candidates for the Michigan job, and what each brings to the table.
Mike Boynton Jr., Michigan assistant coach
The best candidate for Michigan may be the one athletic director Warde Manuel is most familiar with. Boynton played a key role in building May’s program to its 2026 dominance. You can also thank him for Pistons star Cade Cunningham, who he recruited and polished into a No. 1 overall draft pick at Oklahoma State, where he served as head coach from 2017 to 2024 (119–109 record) after following mentor Brad Underwood there. If Boynton doesn’t head to the NBA with May, he’d be a top candidate for Michigan.
Under Manuel, Michigan loves the internal hire when faced with a tough decision. Before his messy fall from grace in December, Moore had gotten the UM job after being its offensive coordinator of a national championship team. He’d also done well as an interim. Likewise, hockey coach Brandon Naurato started as an interim before getting the full-time job — some may argue after waiting far too long. Michigan isn’t forced to make an aggressive move here when it has a strong option inside the house.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Monday afternoon that Michigan is preparing to name Boynton the interim head coach.
Josh Schertz, St. Louis head coach
If he hadn’t run into Michigan in a Round of 32 game in Buffalo, then Schertz might’ve built the kind of mid-major heartbreaker to make a run in March Madness.
With Robbie Avila — nicknames aplenty — at the forefront, his St. Louis Billikens played stout defense, ran the break with efficiency and ranked top three in Division I 3-point percentage.
Schertz, a Florida Atlantic grad, is 451-130 in 18 seasons at the NCAA level for a .776 win percentage that ranks ninth among coaches of more than four seasons. He’s 114-61 in five years at Division I for a .651 win percentage. Schertz had St. Louis ranked most of the winter due to its efficiency, and he made his first March Madness trip in Buffalo, where his team made paste of Dusty May’s mentor Mike White and Georgia before falling to UM. If Schertz wants to make the climb to the Big Ten, perhaps that job on the other sideline could be of intrigue.
Brian Dutcher, San Diego state head coach
An Alpena native and longtime associate head coach of Steve Fisher, Brian Dutcher was on the sidelines when Michigan won the national championship in 1989. He also helped recruit the Fab Five, with its two runner-up finishes. Dutcher followed Fisher to San Diego State in the wake of the Ed Martin scandal — one that may have lost its sting with today’s pay-to-play ways. Dusty May even referenced earlier this summer that the Fab Five banners could go back up in Crisler Center. How about one of the coaches?
In nine seasons as San Diego State’s head coach with a 220–79 (.736) record, Dutcher has led the school to seven NCAA Tournament bids. His squad made it all the way to the national championship game in 2023 before losing to Dan Hurley’s UConn, then made the Sweet 16 the next year.
Dutcher has coached stars, including Kawhi Leonard (2009 to 2011). Keshad Johnson played on that Final Four team before finding his way to the Miami Heat by way of Arizona. Recent NCAA difference-makers Nick Boyd (Wisconsin) and Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn, USC) got their starts with Dutcher at SDSU.
cearegood@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Where does Michigan go from here? Candidates to replace Dusty May
Reporting by Connor Earegood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Connor Earegood, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
