Boynton Takes Helm at Michigan to Defend National Title
The former Oklahoma State coach signs a two-year contract after serving as an assistant on the staff that won the championship last season.
By Aminata Patterson ·
Mike Boynton now bears the weight of defending the NCAA men's basketball national title at Michigan. The Wolverines hired the former Oklahoma State coach to a two-year contract following the departure of Dusty May, who left for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks after winning the championship with the program.
Boynton served as an assistant under May for the last two seasons. He previously spent seven years as the head coach at Oklahoma State, where he compiled a 119-109 record and reached the NCAA Tournament once. That tenure ended in 2023-24 when the Cowboys finished 12-20 and he was dismissed.
Michigan initially named Boynton interim head coach after May's exit. The school subsequently solidified his role with the new two-year deal. Boynton credits his time on May's staff for improving his coaching abilities.
Boynton told reporters at Big Ten media days that the past two years felt like a sabbatical. He said he spent that time sitting next to a genius, learning how to run a high-functioning corporation. He noted that he learned how to identify specific qualities in people for a basketball team and how to delegate responsibilities.
The Michigan hire is part of a wide-ranging coaching carousel across college basketball. Jerome Tang was fired from Kansas State after going 45-47 over his last three seasons there. Casey Alexander replaces Tang at Kansas State. Alexander holds a 303-180 career record after coaching at Stetson, Lipscomb, and Belmont.
Other notable changes include Will Wade returning to LSU for a second stint. He had been fired from the school in 2022 following a recruiting violation. At North Carolina, Michael Malone joins the Tar Heels after a career as an NBA coach that included a 2023 title with the Denver Nuggets. Malone replaces Hubert Davis.
On the women's side, Pauline Love returns to Alabama as head coach. She had served as an assistant there in 2024-25 under Kristy Curry, who moved to South Florida. Tammi Reiss joins the program after seven years at Rhode Island, where she compiled a 138-73 record.
Source: ABC News
