Michigan basketball has officially turned the page.
On Friday, the University of Michigan announced that Mike Boynton Jr. has been named the Wolverines’ new head men’s basketball coach. Athletic Director Warde Manuel confirmed that Boynton has agreed to a two-year contract and will serve as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach.
The announcement comes less than three weeks after Dusty May departed Ann Arbor to become the head coach of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
Michigan Rewards Continuity
Rather than launching a nationwide coaching search, Michigan chose to promote from within.
Boynton enters his third season in Ann Arbor after helping lead the Wolverines through one of the most successful stretches in school history. During his two seasons on staff, Michigan compiled a 64-13 record, captured the 2025 Big Ten Tournament championship, won the 2026 Big Ten regular-season title, and claimed the program’s first NCAA national championship in 37 years.
“Mike is a veteran assistant with strong head coaching experience and a clear understanding of the standard we expect at Michigan,” Athletic Director Warde Manuel said. “Over the past two seasons, he has been an invaluable member of our staff, bringing stability, leadership and perspective during an important period of success. Our players and staff believe in his vision, are committed to his leadership and are excited for the opportunity to pursue great success together this season.”
University Leadership Voices Confidence
Michigan President Domenico Grasso also praised the decision, expressing confidence that Boynton is the right person to continue the program’s success.
“Coach Boynton has demonstrated exceptional leadership, unwavering integrity, and a deep commitment to the development of student-athletes throughout his career,” Grasso said. “I am confident he will build on our winning tradition, strengthen our culture of excellence, and lead our program in a way that reflects the very best of the University of Michigan’s values.”
Boynton Ready for the Challenge
After spending the past two years helping build Michigan into a national champion, Boynton said he’s eager to begin leading the program.
“I’m grateful to Warde for his confidence and thankful for the opportunity to lead this program,” Boynton said. “We have built a championship culture and a standard that everyone associated with this program takes great pride in. We have an outstanding group of players, and I’m excited to get to work and continue the success we’ve established together.”
A Proven Resume
Boynton brings extensive head coaching experience to the role.
Before joining Michigan, he spent seven seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State, compiling a 119-109 record while leading the Cowboys to an NCAA Tournament appearance and developing future No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Cade Cunningham.
At Michigan, Boynton served as the team’s defensive coordinator, helping transform the Wolverines into one of the nation’s elite defensive programs. Michigan ranked first nationally in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency during its championship-winning 2025-26 season.
He also played a major role in developing NBA talent. During his two seasons in Ann Arbor, Boynton helped mentor four first-round NBA Draft picks, including three lottery selections in the 2026 NBA Draft: Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara.
The Bottom Line
Michigan could have looked outside the program following Dusty May’s departure, but instead chose continuity.
With much of the national championship roster electing to stay in Ann Arbor, Boynton now has the opportunity to build on one of the greatest two-year runs in Michigan basketball history while leading the Wolverines into a new era.
