Indiana fans are hoping the administration can find the perfect replacement for Mike Woodson at the end of the season, but hoping doesn't mean they don't have some suggestions as well. Hoosier fans would love to see a reunion with Dusty May, a former assistant to the great Bob Knight back when May was a student at Indiana.
May attended the University of Indiana from 1996 to 2000 and spent all four seasons as student manager under Bob Knight and even spent a few seasons after graduating in video and administrative roles. After moving around in different roles at a few different schools, May got his first head coaching opportunity at Florida Atlantic University.
At FAU, May compiled an impressive 126-69 record and even led the Owls to the NCAA Tournament in both 2023 and 2024. He and the Owls are most remembered for their magical run to the Final Four in 2023, in which they went in as a 9-seed. The Owls fell to San Diego State in the Final Four, who went on to lose to UConn in the National Championship.
After two great seasons at FAU, Michigan had an opening for their head coach and May was a highly-sought-after candidate. It all came together and May ended being the next head coach for the Wolverines.
In his first season at Michigan, May has done a phenomenal job going from a Group of Five conference to now a power conference and continuing his success. The Wolverines are 18-5 and 10-2 in the Big Ten sitting just a half game out of first place in the conference.
After beating Indiana, in what ended up being a close game late, May, who has definitely heard the rumors and grumblings about Hoosier fans wanting him coaching back in Assembly Hall, put the rumors to bed.
"First of all, it's flattering," May said in his postgame press conference. "That stuff's crazy, I love being at Michigan, and I love our team. We're fighting like crazy. That's it."
May attributes his time at Indiana and even talked about whenever he turns on the TV and sees Indiana playing in football or baseball, he will sit down and cheer on the Hoosiers as an Alumni, but he is a Michigan man right now and he has a job to do with the Wolverines.
"This place [Indiana] is my foundation, but I'm very, very happy at the University of Michigan," May said. "We came here to win a game, and mission accomplished."
The Hoosiers probably won't start their true coaching search until the season officially comes to an end and Woodson steps down and retires. Until then, the Hoosiers are on a mission to stop their five-game skid and see if just maybe they can back into the March Madness bubble watch.