At the Final Four in Indianapolis, Michigan coach Dusty May was repeatedly pressed about the open North Carolina job but refused to engage, insisting he is fully committed to the Wolverines and will not weigh in on positions that are not his. May’s comments come amid an 11-day coaching search at UNC after the firing of Hubert Davis and after Arizona confirmed Tommy Lloyd was no longer a candidate for Chapel Hill.
Speaking to Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 on April 2, May said he would not “comment on any job that’s not mine,” adding he was “incredibly happy, honored, and blessed to be the coach of Michigan in the Final Four, representing this incredible university and athletic department.” He said the stance grew from an experience last year when he made a comment about his alma mater that was “misconstrued,” and he has since resolved not to respond to speculation about other openings.
May reiterated the position during media availability on April 3 in Indianapolis, stressing family considerations and his satisfaction at Michigan. “I think it’s well documented how happy I am at Michigan,” he said, noting he would only discuss other opportunities if Michigan released him from his contract. The remarks come as Michigan reaches the national semifinals in his second season after May helped build a roster heavy on transfer additions, including former UNC guard Elliot Cadeau.
Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has publicly signaled he wants May to remain in Ann Arbor long term and is actively working to secure that outcome. After Michigan won the Midwest Region on March 30, Manuel said any athletic director would cherish a coach “that other people want,” and added, “I want Dusty to finish his career here at Michigan. I’ll work to make sure that he’s happy, we have what we need, and he has what he needs to succeed. That’s it, period.”
Contract details that could affect interested programs were also made public. According to the USA TODAY Network, May’s buyout at Michigan is currently $4 million but is scheduled to drop to $2 million on May 1. That contractual clause has been a frequent point of focus whenever high-profile openings arise during postseason play.
The UNC search has drawn national attention since Hubert Davis was dismissed, with several names circulated before Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd removed himself from consideration on April 3. May’s reluctance to confirm or deny interest, combined with Michigan’s strong run to the Final Four and the timing of his buyout reduction, ensures he will remain part of the coaching conversation until Michigan’s postseason ends or the program makes other public moves.