Dusty May, Michigan Agree to New Contract After Winning 2026 NCAA MCBB Championship

After leading the University of Michigan to its first national championship in men's basketball since 1989, head coach Dusty May agreed to a new, long-term contract with the school.

According to Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announced the news during the Wolverines' championship celebration on Saturday, saying, "Dusty and I have already reached an agreement. And he will be the leader of this basketball team for many years to come."

Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press reported Saturday that although the numbers have yet to be finalized, May's extension is a five-year deal that runs through the 2030-31 season.

Per Dylan Burkhardt of UMHoops.com, May commented Saturday on his extension, saying, "I'm very grateful, and during the tournament, I just told Warde I'm not leaving. And I probably ruined any leverage I could have had. It's an honor to coach at this great institution, and I just look forward to what's next."

On Monday night, May and the Wolverines defeated the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the National Championship Game, securing Michigan its second-ever national title in men's basketball.

The 49-year-old May joined Michigan as head coach in 2024 following a highly successful, six-year run at Florida Atlantic that saw him go 126-69 with two NCAA tournament appearances and one trip to the Final Four.

May instantly turned things around in Ann Arbor, leading the Wolverines to a 27-10 record, a Big Ten Conference tournament title and a spot in the Sweet 16 in his first year on the job.

Just one year earlier, Michigan went 8-24 in its final season under Juwan Howard, which matched the second-worst campaign in program history in terms of winning percentage.

The Wolverines took another significant leap forward in May's second season, going 37-3, winning the Big Ten regular-season title and reaching the Final Four for the first time since 2018.

While Michigan lost in the 2018 national title game, the result was different this time around, as guard Elliot Cadeau scored 19 points en route to being named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

The Wolverines are poised to lose forward Yaxel Lendeborg and potentially more key players to the NBA this offseason, but the reigning Final Four MOP is set to return to the fold.

Cadeau informed ESPN's Pete Thamel this week that he will return to Michigan for his senior season in 2026-27.

With the combo of May and Cadeau in place, Michigan has a chance to join UConn as the only back-to-back national champs in NCAA Division I men's basketball since 2008.