Michigan AD Wants Dusty May to Stay After NCAA Tournament Run

Warde Manuel says he 'loves this problem' of other schools pursuing the Wolverines' head coach.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:08pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with sharp planes of maize and blue colors representing the energy and intensity of the Michigan Wolverines' tournament victory.Michigan's athletic director expresses desire to keep head coach Dusty May after the team's impressive NCAA Tournament run.Chicago Today

After Michigan's dominant 95-62 victory over Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, athletic director Warde Manuel expressed his desire to keep head coach Dusty May in Ann Arbor. May's successful run with the Wolverines has drawn interest from other programs, but Manuel says he 'loves this problem' and wants May to finish his career at Michigan.

Why it matters

Retaining successful head coaches is a constant challenge for athletic departments, as top programs often try to poach talent. Michigan's deep tournament run has elevated May's profile, making it crucial for the school to keep him in order to maintain the program's momentum.

The details

In the Wolverines' 95-62 win over Tennessee on Sunday in Chicago, star player Yaxel Lendeborg scored 27 points to lead Michigan to the victory. The dominant performance has fueled speculation that other schools may try to lure away head coach Dusty May, who has built Michigan into a national powerhouse.

  • Michigan beat Tennessee, 95-62, in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday in Chicago.

The players

Warde Manuel

The athletic director at the University of Michigan.

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan men's basketball team.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A star player for the Michigan Wolverines who scored 27 points in the team's NCAA Tournament victory over Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“Any AD in America would want to have a coach that other people want.”

— Warde Manuel, Athletic Director, University of Michigan

The takeaway

Michigan's dominant NCAA Tournament performance has elevated Dusty May's profile, making it crucial for the school to retain him in order to maintain the program's momentum and continue its success.