Michigan's Dusty May Addresses UNC Coaching Vacancy

The Wolverines' coach is considered a top candidate for the Tar Heels' opening, but says he won't comment on other jobs.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 10:04am

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Michigan head coach Dusty May has been linked to the head coaching vacancy at the University of North Carolina following Hubert Davis' firing. However, May has stated that he will not comment on any job openings other than his current position with the Wolverines, saying he is 'incredibly happy' at Michigan and focused on leading his team to the Final Four.

Why it matters

The UNC head coaching job is one of the most prestigious in college basketball, and May's name being connected to the opening suggests he has established himself as one of the top young coaches in the sport. Michigan will likely need to work to retain May, who has a $4 million buyout in his current contract that drops to $2 million on May 1.

The details

May, in his second season as Michigan's head coach, has quickly built the Wolverines into a national title contender. He has led Michigan to the program's first Final Four since 2018 after adding several key transfers to the roster. When asked about the UNC job, May said he is 'incredibly happy' at Michigan and will not 'comment on any job' that is not his current position, citing a previous experience where his comments were 'misconstrued'.

  • On April 2, May spoke with Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 about the UNC job opening.
  • On April 3, May reiterated his stance during media availability in Indianapolis.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, who has led the team to the Final Four in his second season and is considered a top candidate for the head coaching vacancy at the University of North Carolina.

Warde Manuel

The athletic director at the University of Michigan, who has stated that he wants May to 'finish his career' with the Wolverines and is working to ensure May remains in Ann Arbor.

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What they’re saying

“I decided when my alma mater opened (Indiana), no matter what you said, it could be misinterpreted, and so I'm forever going to not comment on any job that's not mine. I'm incredibly happy, honored, and blessed to be the coach of Michigan in the Final Four, representing this incredible university and athletic department.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

“Any AD in America would want to have a coach that other people want. I've had the opposite problem. I love this problem more than I love the opposite problem. We'll deal with it. We'll work through it. 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.”

— Warde Manuel, Athletic Director, University of Michigan

What’s next

Michigan will likely need to work to retain May, potentially by renegotiating his contract and increasing his buyout, in order to keep him from being lured away by other high-profile programs like UNC.

The takeaway

Dusty May's refusal to comment on the UNC job opening suggests he is fully committed to Michigan and building the Wolverines into a national championship contender. However, his rapid rise as one of the top young coaches in college basketball will make him a sought-after candidate for other premier jobs, putting pressure on Michigan to ensure he remains in Ann Arbor.