Boynton Signs Two-Year Pact To Run Michigan Basketball

Mike Boynton is officially the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team. The program announced a two-year contract extension that follows his appointment as interim leader after Dusty May’s departure for the NBA. Michigan enters the season as the defending national champion, a status that places the new leadership under immediate scrutiny.

Boynton spent the previous two academic years as an assistant on May’s staff. He had previously served as the head coach at Oklahoma State for seven seasons, compiling an overall record of 119 wins and 109 losses. His tenure in Stillwater ended in 2023-24 when the Cowboys went 12-20 and he was let go.

The transition at Michigan began after the Wolverines won the NCAA Tournament. May accepted a position to coach the Dallas Mavericks, prompting the university to install Boynton in an interim capacity before finalizing the permanent deal. Boynton attended Big Ten media days to discuss his new role and his time working under May.

Boynton described his recent two-year period as a professional sabbatical. He stated that he learned how to run a high-functioning organization by observing May daily. He noted that he studied how to identify specific player qualities and delegate responsibilities effectively. He emphasized the daily discipline required to maintain consistency and high performance standards within the program.

The coaching market has been active beyond the Michigan hire. Jerome Tang was fired at Kansas State after three seasons that included a combined 45-47 record. Casey Alexander, who holds a 303-180 career record, was named the successor at the Wildcats program. Will Wade returned to LSU for a second stint after a departure in 2022 due to recruiting violations. His interim replacement, Matt McMahon, was let go after a 60-70 record in four years.

North Carolina hired Michael Malone, a former NBA head coach with a 510-394 record. Malone has no prior college head coaching experience but won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. He replaces Hubert Davis, who guided the Tar Heels to the 2022 national title game. N.C. State appointed Justin Gainey, a former player at the school, as its first-time head coach. Syracuse turned to Gerry McNamara, who led Siena to a 23-12 record and an NCAA Tournament bid last season.

Several major changes occurred in women’s basketball as well. Pauline Love returned to Alabama after serving as an assistant there and at Oklahoma. Tammi Reiss arrived at a program from Rhode Island, where she posted a 138-73 record over seven years. Ayla Guzzardo took the helm at a program after leading McNeese to a school-record 29 wins. Carla Berube joined Northwestern after six seasons at Princeton, where she reached the NCAA Tournament in five of those years.