INDIANAPOLIS — The Michigan Wolverines have finally reclaimed their place atop the college basketball world, ending a 37-year title drought with a hard-fought 69-63 victory over the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2026. Head coach Dusty May, in just his second season in Ann Arbor, orchestrated a remarkable turnaround that has reverberated throughout the college basketball landscape and beyond.
For May, the win is more than just a championship. It’s validation—proof that his approach to roster building, player development, and leadership can silence even the loudest critics. As the final buzzer sounded and confetti rained down, May stood atop a ladder, waving the freshly cut net to a sea of maize and blue. "Given where we were two years ago nobody thought this would happen," Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel told reporters. The Wolverines, after all, were coming off a dismal 8-24 season under former coach Juwan Howard, whose tenure ended amid both poor results and controversy.
This title marks Michigan’s second national championship in men’s basketball, their first since 1989, and their second in a major revenue sport in just three years, following the 2024 college football playoff triumph. Not bad for a program that, not long ago, seemed stuck in quicksand. The transformation has been swift and, at times, dramatic.
May’s journey to this moment is a study in perseverance and adaptability. The 49-year-old Terre Haute, Indiana native cut his teeth as a student manager at Indiana University under the legendary Bob Knight, then worked as a video coordinator and assistant at several programs, including Indiana, USC, Eastern Michigan, Murray State, UAB, Louisiana Tech, and Florida. As Florida’s top assistant from 2015 to 2018, May helped the Gators reach the NCAA Tournament twice and make an Elite Eight run in 2017. He then took over at Florida Atlantic, posting a 126-69 record over six seasons and guiding the Owls to a Final Four in 2023.
When Michigan came calling in 2024, May wasted no time making his mark. He led the Wolverines to a Sweet 16 in his first season, then shattered expectations by notching a school-record 37 wins in 2025-26 and capturing the elusive national title. His methods—often scrutinized by rivals and pundits alike—have proven highly effective. Critics have accused May of "buying" his team through the transfer portal, but he’s quick to push back. "We took four guys out of the portal. If you listen to the college basketball gospel, we took 17 of them, and that’s all we have," May quipped, addressing the narrative head-on. He even drew parallels to the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, saying, "I wasn’t judging them because Shai Alexander was drafted by the Clippers or because (the Thunder) signed Isaiah Hartenstein as a free agent. I thought, ‘Wow, those guys played beautiful basketball, that’s a great team, that’s a real model for young players to watch.'"
May’s ability to blend transfers like Yaxel Lendeborg from UAB, Morez Johnson Jr. from Illinois, Elliot Cadeau from North Carolina, and Aday Mara from UCLA with homegrown talent such as freshman guard Trey McKenney has been a masterclass in roster construction. The Wolverines’ staff also prides itself on player development and innovation, regularly seeking new ideas from around the sports world. "Our superpower is we’re forever learning," assistant coach Akeem Miskdeen said. This relentless pursuit of improvement has paid off handsomely.
The championship run was not without off-court drama for Michigan’s athletic department. In December 2025, football coach Sherrone Moore was fired after an internal investigation revealed an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, leading to his arrest and subsequent plea agreement. The department remains under investigation for broader issues, including NCAA sanctions related to the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. Through it all, Manuel has leaned on May and other program leaders to steady the ship. "We have a lot of anchors in a lot of different programs," Manuel said after the title game. "What happened in football this fall is not defining of the 99.99% of the people in that department who are doing the right things. I’m proud of my staff, I’m proud of my coaches, I’m proud of my student-athletes in the way they comport themselves."
May’s on-court success has been matched by financial rewards. He received a $200,000 bonus for winning the national championship, adding to a $50,000 bonus for the Big Ten regular-season title, another $50,000 for being named Big Ten Coach of the Year, and a $200,000 (doubled to $400,000) bonus for reaching and winning the Final Four. May’s five-year contract, signed in July 2025, pays a base salary of $4.6 million this season, increasing annually and peaking at $5.6 million by 2029-30. If he remains coach through April 30, he’ll pocket an additional $150,000 retention bonus; should he leave before then, he owes a $7 million buyout, decreasing by $2 million each of the next two seasons.
Rumors swirled about May being a top candidate for the North Carolina job, but he quickly shut them down. "That became official a few hours later. He prefers Ann Arbor to Chapel Hill as his basketball home," one report noted. Manuel confirmed to the Free Press, "May is expected to return to Ann Arbor." There’s even talk of a third contract in two seasons to keep him in maize and blue, though Manuel joked, "Dusty’s going to be fine." As for the NBA? The door remains open, but for now, May seems content to build his legacy at Michigan.
May’s family is also woven into the fabric of college basketball. His wife, Anna, and their three sons—Jack, Charlie, and Eli—have all been involved in the sport. Jack played for Florida from 2020-24, Charlie currently suits up for Michigan after transferring from UCF, and Eli serves as a student manager for the Wolverines. It’s a basketball family through and through.
Looking ahead, Michigan appears poised to remain a force. May has already secured a commitment from five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr. for next season, and the balance of developed players and high-impact transfers suggests the Wolverines will be knocking on the door again soon. As rival coaches and fans grumble, May’s blueprint—rooted in expertise, honesty, and relentless learning—continues to deliver results.
In the aftermath of this historic win, the Michigan fight song, "The Victors," is sure to echo across the college basketball landscape for months to come. The Wolverines have their champion, and Dusty May has proven he’s more than up for the challenge of keeping them on top.