Michigan's Dusty May responds to questions about Indiana head-coaching vacancy: 'That stuff's crazy ... I love being at Michigan'
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Michigan Wolverines basketball first-year head coach Dusty May is back in his old stomping grounds, with the Maize and Blue beat Indiana at Assembly Hall, 70-67, Saturday afternoon.
May, 48, is a Bloomfield, Ind., native who grew up rooting for the Hoosiers. He was a student manager for Indiana from 1996-2000 under the late Bob Knight, a three-time national champion as the program’s head coach.
Naturally, May’s name has been discussed among media and the Indiana fan base this week, due to his return to Bloomington and Indiana announcing Friday that head coach Mike Woodson will be stepping down at season’s end.
In his postgame press conference, May was asked about how Indiana fans have been calling for him to be a candidate for the job, and if he would have any interest.
“First of all, it’s flattering,” May said. “To have the path that I had and have — I’m still on that same path — it makes you feel good, because what’s your competitive advantages as a student manager that transferred in from being a marginal Division-II player? You just think back and it’s like, man, all I did was show great energy and passion for this game, and helping people every day. Because of that, I think people always saw something and then believed in me, and then you get to this point.
“But that stuff’s crazy. I love being at Michigan. I love our team. We’re fighting like crazy. That’s it. This place is my foundation, but I’m very, very happy at the University of Michigan.”
The Wolverines are on a four-game winning streak, 10-2 in Big Ten play and in the hunt for the league championship. May was asked how he can prevent the Indiana job opening and his name being linked from being a distraction for Michigan.
“We’ll talk about it with the team,” May said. “We control what we can control. That was the whole thing today — what’s gonna happen when you get asked about this or that? You can control what you can control.
Top 10
- 1
Bama to No. 1?
ESPN says so with confidence
- 2
Down goes No. 2 Duke
Clemson opens the door for Bama
- 3
No. 1 Auburn upset
Florida dominates Tigers
- 4New
Dusty May
Gets ahead of Indiana rumors
- 5
Rick Pitino
New sheriff in Big Ten?
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“If I’m spending time thinking about that stuff, then we’re in trouble on Tuesday, when the Boilermakers come in to Crisler Arena.”
May is in his first season as Michigan’s head coach, and he has the team in the mix at the top of the Big Ten, one season after the Wolverines finished at the bottom of the league and wound up with an 8-24 record.
May was one of the hottest names of last year’s coaching carousel, and he turned down overtures from Louisville and Vanderbilt to instead coach Michigan. He left Florida Atlantic after six seasons, taking the Owls to the 2023 Final Four, where they fell to San Diego State. May led Florida Atlantic to two-straight NCAA Tournaments in 2023 and 2024.
The Michigan head coach said earlier in the week that he had friends texting him about getting together for his return to Indiana, but he hadn’t responded. He was locked in on attempting to notch the Maize and Blue’s 10th Big Ten win, not worried about outside distractions. He downplayed his homecoming to his alma mater.
“I have a very closed mindset during the season, where all I can think about is, how do we play better, how do we practice better tomorrow, what is our plan, is it clean, is it concise?” May said Wednesday evening. “I think we’re gonna go shoot Friday night, whatever it is, when we land. And I’m sure it’d be cool to walk in Assembly Hall where you’ve spent a lot of time, but I’m not thinking about anything. My mom lives in Bloomington, it is what it is. But I’m going there to try to win a freaking basketball game, and that’s it.”
