Michigan Coach Dusty May Reaches Final Four in Year Two

Dusty May needed to change a sign in his locker room after his first Final Four appearance in 2023. The Florida Atlantic coach had told his team to build "March habits," but they ended up playing deep into April.

Now at Michigan, May has upgraded the motto to "April habits." In just two seasons with the Wolverines, he's delivered on that promise by leading them to their first Final Four since 2018.

The journey to Indianapolis this weekend brings May full circle. He grew up in rural Greene County, Indiana, working in turkey barns and cutting tobacco in a community where neighbors helped each other without asking. That same spirit now powers how he runs Michigan basketball.

May's system looks completely different from traditional college basketball. The Wolverines don't call set plays. Instead, they run a free-flowing offense inspired by European basketball, featuring constant movement and creative passing that players nicknamed "hibachi" after the fast-paced cooking style.

In Michigan's Elite Eight demolition of Tennessee, that system produced a devastating 21-0 run. One possession featured 10 passes among all five players before guard Elliot Cadeau hit an open three-pointer. The defense never had a chance to recover.

The secret lies in May's recruiting strategy. He prioritizes oversized players with exceptional passing skills, then lets them read and react rather than follow rigid plays. Assistant coach Mike Boynton calls Cadeau, forward Yaxel Lendeborg and center Aday Mara among the best passers in the country at their positions.

May's path to this moment wasn't straightforward. His career zigzagged across the country from Indiana to USC, Eastern Michigan, UAB, Florida, Florida Atlantic and finally Michigan. Each stop added new ideas to his coaching philosophy, like the Turkish passing drill he borrowed from a former Indiana manager who scouts in Europe.

Why This Inspires

May's story proves that success doesn't require abandoning your roots. His small-town values of hard work and helping others haven't just survived in big-time college basketball. They've become his competitive advantage.

The transformation at Michigan happened faster than almost anyone expected. What took decades to build at Florida Atlantic took just two years at Michigan, showing that the right system and culture can accelerate even at the highest level.

His son Charlie, a senior walk-on, captures the shift perfectly. At Florida Atlantic, the Final Four felt like a dream. At Michigan, it feels like the expectation.

As the basketball world watches Michigan in Indianapolis this weekend, they'll see more than just another blue-blood program back in the spotlight—they'll see proof that staying true to yourself can change everything around you.