Dusty May: Sherrone Moore, Michigan football staff 'are guys that you want to root for'

ROSEMONT, Ill. — In late January, Michigan saw Jim Harbaugh leave for the NFL following a national title. Almost two months later, the Wolverines parted ways with Juwan Howard – meaning both the football and men’s basketball programs would have new coaches in 2024-25.

On the football side, Michigan promoted Sherrone Moore to full-time head coach. But the basketball program took a big swing by landing one of the most coveted coaches in Dusty May, who was one year removed from a Final Four run at Florida Atlantic.

Through the first six months of his tenure, May and Moore developed a strong relationship as they started building their respective programs. Both teams had plenty of turnover. But to May, that’s where the parallels end – for now, at least.

“Well, we don’t have the national championship pedigree quite yet,” May joked at Big Ten Basketball Media Days. “Hopefully in one year, we can say yes [there are similarities].”

Michigan football’s national championship got the Wolverines back to the top of the college football world. The basketball program, however, struggled during Howard’s season en route to an 8-24 record before moving on from a program legend.

That’s where May came in, and he overhauled the roster with nine new faces – led by a group of highly rated transfers such as Vladislav Golden. But the football program was a key part of May’s recruiting plan. The staff took prospects through the facility on visits.

Most of all, their bond is strong. May had high praise for the way Moore and the Wolverines handled following up the national championship season, and explained why he’s one of their biggest cheerleaders.

“Coach Moore and his staff are guys that you want to root for because they’re great guys, they’re great coaches and they pour into their players,” May said. “Those are the guys that I like to be around. They’ve been great. We’ve taken every recruit through the facility. They come over and you’ll see their staff shooting hoops or bringing recruits through. It’s a true partnership at Michigan where we’re all rooting for each other. Their success helps us, our success will help them.

“But it’s been fun to watch because they had such high expectations. They lose all those guys, they’re rebuilding. But yet, the expectations never change, and that’s why you come to Michigan because those expectations, they don’t change.”