Is Dusty May ready for the big stage?
IU basketball fans are about to get an up close and personal view as he heads to the Big Ten.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the former IU basketball manager under Bob Knight is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at Michigan.
May became one of the hottest names on the coaching carousel a year ago when he led Florida Atlantic to its greatest season in school history. He guided his Owls to the Final Four while posting a program-best 35-4 record. After a 25-9 2023-24 campaign, FAU has an .822 winning percentage over the last two years.
Rumors were swirling earlier on Saturday May might be headed to Louisville.
In a conversation with The Daily Hoosier last spring, former IU player Dane Fife said May reminds him of another Big Ten coach.
“He reminds me a lot of Tom Izzo, in the best ways that Tom Izzo can be, Dusty reminds me of him. He’s that good. He’s that astute,” Fife said. “He’s humble. This whole thing, it hasn’t changed him, and it won’t change him. Just an outstanding coach and an ambassador, really, for the game.”
May replaces Juwan Howard in Ann Arbor, who was fired after five seasons and the program’s first last-place Big Ten finish since the 1966-67 season.
After serving as a manager under Knight as an IU student (1996-2000), May spent three seasons at his alma mater. After two seasons as the program’s video coordinator (2002-04), he moved up to the administrative assistant for the 2004-05 season, all under Mike Davis.
May, Joe Pasternack, and Mike Schrage were all IU managers under Bob Knight in the 90s, and all three went on to become Division I college basketball coaches.
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