Michigan Advances to the 2026 National Championship Game

Dusty May is a prominent American basketball coach currently serving as the head coach for the Michigan Wolverinesmen's basketball team. Born on December 30, 1976, in Terre Haute, Indiana, he began his career in basketball as a student manager at Indiana University under coach Bob Knight from 1996 to 2000. After graduation, he held various administrative and video roles at USC and Indiana before transitioning into assistant coaching positions at programs such as Eastern Michigan, Murray State, UAB, Louisiana Tech, and Florida.In 2018, May earned his first head coaching role at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where he became the all-time wins leader for the program with 126 victories. During his tenure at FAU, he led the team to a historic Final Fourappearance in 2023 and never recorded a losing season. His success at the mid-major level led to his hiring at the University of Michigan in March 2024.During his first season at Michigan (2024–25), May set a program record for the most total wins by a first-year head coach, finishing with 27 victories. That season included a Big Ten tournament championship and an advancement to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. His second season (2025–26) saw even greater achievements, as Michigan reached a No. 1 national ranking for the first time since the 2012–13 season. The Wolverines secured the Big Ten regular-season title outright and set a new conference record with 19 wins in a single season.In the 2026 NCAA tournament, May led Michigan to its second Final Four under his leadership and the first for the program since 2018. On April 4, 2026, Michigan defeated Arizona 91–73 in the national semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Standout performances included a career-high 26 points from 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara and contributions from Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg. With this victory, Michigan became the first team in tournament history to score at least 90 points in five consecutive games.The Wolverines are now scheduled to compete for the National Championship against UConn on April 6, 2026. May’s coaching excellence has been recognized with multiple honors, including being named the 2026 Big Ten Coach of the Year and receiving the Henry Iba Award as the national coach of the year. He currently maintains an impressive head coaching record at Michigan with a winning percentage of approximately .829. He resides with his wife, Anna, and they have three sons, one of whom, Charlie, is a member of the Michigan basketball roster.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/champions-network--6884663/support.