The former Indiana manager is in his first year coaching Michigan.
Michigan men’s basketball head coach Dusty May wasn’t going to leave Assembly Hall without getting a certain question, win or lose.
After his Wolverines pulled off a 70-67 win over the outgoing Mike Woodson’s Indiana Hoosiers, he sat down to address the media postgame. He was told, plainly, that plenty of Indiana fans would like him to be the program’s next head coach and was asked if he would have any interest.
“I mean, first of all, it’s flattering,” May said. “When you have the path that I had, and have, I’m still on this same path, it makes you feel good because what’s your competitive advantage as a student manager that transferred in as a marginal division-I player? You just think back and it’s like, man, really all I did was show up with great energy and passion for this game and helping people every day and because of that I think people always saw something or believed in me and then you get to this point. That stuff’s crazy, I mean, 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. Came here to win a game and mission accomplished.”
May was then asked if he had a message for Michigan fans that “might be worried right now,” and said the following:
“I mean there’s nothing I can say that’s gonna make this one way or the other. I love being at Michigan, that hasn’t crossed my mind other than just what friends and family said and to be honest I’ve eliminated all that, so.”
Here’s the full video:
Dusty May’s full response when asked about Indiana’s job opening. #iubb pic.twitter.com/qVNOOqACWI
— Jared Kelly (@Jared_Kelly7) February 8, 2025
Now you’ll notice one thing that was absent from May’s statement was any sort of “no,” that’s obviously notable, but anyone privy to coaching searches throughout the years should know that this type of answer has been delivered time and again for all kinds of jobs.
Some coaches have left for that exact job after making this sort of statement. Others have stayed put.
Here’s one thing to keep in mind: May’s Michigan has been pretty good in his debut season in Ann Arbor, probably good enough to line up an extension for him. The Indiana job being open presents substantial leverage for May in particular. If Michigan isn’t willing to commit to providing him a raise, better resources or both, you can bet Indiana would.
It’ll be a useful bargaining chip in extension talks, one May wouldn’t want to give up right now. So the lack of a no doesn’t necessarily mean he’s interested.