Michigan basketball didn’t look far to find a temporary leader for the program during a whirlwind week.
Mike Boynton Jr. was named interim head coach by athletic director Warde Manuel on Tuesday, a day after news broke of Dusty May’s departure for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue to lead us,” Boynton told BTN’s Andy Katz on Tuesday night at the NBA Draft, where Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 overall pick), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 pick) and Aday Mara (No. 12 pick) were selected in the first round.
In a statement on Tuesday, Manuel called Boynton, May’s top assistant coach the past two seasons, “the right person” to promote “in an interim capacity,” though it’s unclear for how long. Manuel didn’t mention a commitment to making Boynton, 44, the permanent head coach nor if a coaching search was being conducted to find May’s replacement.
When asked what Manuel told him about being the interim and potentially full-time head coach, Boynton said he’s “recognizing the opportunity” and knows what can be accomplished at Michigan, with the Wolverines winning their first national title since 1989 this past season.
“We’ve got really good players, really good resources, a great fan base, and I’m excited to serve our players in our program,” Boynton said.
Due to the coaching change, Michigan players will have the opportunity to explore their options. Under NCAA rules, a 15-day transfer window will open five days after May’s replacement is hired. If a new permanent head coach isn’t publicly announced within 30 days of May’s departure, the 15-day window will open on the 31st day.
After losing four starters and two key reserves from last season’s national title team, Michigan reloaded and restocked its talent to assemble what’s viewed as a top-10 roster heading into next season.
The Wolverines added a top-five freshman class headlined by McDonald’s All-Americans Brandon McCoy Jr. and Quinn Costello. They brought in frontcourt players Moustapha Thiam, J.P. Estrella and Jalen Reed in a transfer class that ranks No. 12 in the nation by 247Sports. And they brought back key returners Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney.
If Michigan plans to repeat as Big Ten champions and defend its national title, it’s going to need to keep its team intact.
“We feel good about the relationships that our staff has with the players on the team,” Boynton said. “These guys all committed to come to Michigan to play together. The team that we put together, we feel like can compete nationally and certainly at the higher end of the Big Ten.”
“We’ve got really good players, really good resources, a great fan base, and I’m excited to serve our players and our program.”
Watch @TheAndyKatz‘s interview with recently appointed @umichbball interim head coach Mike Boynton 👇 pic.twitter.com/mkXhc6mnMB
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) June 24, 2026
McKenney told The Detroit News on Monday that he doesn’t plan on going elsewhere. He seemed to reaffirm that stance with a social media post that read: “Victors always stay #HA1L #GoBlue.”
Boynton noted that “conversations are ongoing” with the players on Michigan’s roster.
“I’m glad for all the guys who’ve already made their intentions known,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to talk to the guys who haven’t officially and getting them on board as well.”
Prior to joining May’s staff in Ann Arbor, Boynton was head coach at Oklahoma State from 2017-24. Across those seven seasons, he posted a 119-109 record, made one NCAA Tournament and coached Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham for a year.
At Michigan, Boynton has been in charge of the defense, which was downright dominant last season and ranked No. 1 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency.
Given his experience, background and familiarity with the program, the hope is Boynton can be a steady hand that the team needs — however long that may be.
“Mike has been an invaluable member of our staff and a respected leader throughout his career,” Manuel said. “He knows what Michigan basketball represents and has earned the trust and respect of our student-athletes and everyone in our program. His experience, character and commitment to our values make him the right person to guide the team during this transition.”
jhawkins@detroitnews.com
@jamesbhawkins
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Mike Boynton Jr. comments on being named Michigan’s interim coach
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