Mike Boynton Jr. named Michigan men's basketball head coach
Mike Boynton Jr. is Michigan men's basketball head coach. Warde Manuel announced the promotion on July 10, 2026, removing Boynton's interim tag on a two-year contract. The hire keeps continuity after Dusty May left for the Dallas Mavericks, with Boynton leading a largely intact roster into 2026-27. Boynton served as an assistant and defensive coordinator for two seasons before being elevated from interim status.
Key Takeaways
- Mike Boynton Jr. agreed to a two-year contract as Michigan's full-time head coach on July 10, 2026.
- As an assistant, he helped the Wolverines go 64-13 with a 2026 Big Ten title and the 2025-26 national championship.
- Thirteen of 14 scholarship players have pledged to stay after May's departure, per team reports.
- McDonald's All-American Quinn Costello was the final member of the six-man freshman class to recommit.
- Junior guard L.J. Cason, rehabbing a torn ACL, is the only player who has not yet announced his plans.
Why Did Michigan Promote Mike Boynton Jr.?
Manuel said Boynton brought stability, leadership and perspective during a championship stretch. Boynton enters his third season in Ann Arbor with two decades of coaching experience, including seven years as head coach at Oklahoma State.
During his first two seasons on Michigan's staff, the Wolverines compiled a 64-13 record, won the 2025 Big Ten Tournament, captured the 2026 Big Ten regular-season title, and claimed the program's second NCAA national championship. The 2025-26 team finished 37-3 with a conference-record 19-1 Big Ten mark.
According to the University of Michigan Athletics announcement, Boynton will serve as the David and Meredith Kaplan Men's Basketball Head Coach.
Did Michigan Keep Its Roster Together After the Coaching Change?
May left for the Mavericks just before the NBA draft, thrusting Michigan into offseason uncertainty months after its first national title in 37 years. Boynton was named interim coach and made roster retention his top priority.
Nearly every player has re-committed since May's exit, MLive reported. Returners Elliot Cadeau and Trey McKenney led the way, followed by transfers Moustapha Thiam, J.P. Estrella, and Jalen Reed. The entire six-man freshman class ranked fourth nationally by 247Sports also stayed, headlined by five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr.
On July 9, McDonald's All-American forward Quinn Costello became the 13th player to pledge his return, The Detroit News confirmed. Cason remains the only scholarship player without a public decision.
What Happens Next for Michigan Basketball?
With a permanent head coach now named, NCAA rules open a transfer portal window. Per The Detroit News, portal access begins July 24 or five days after the hire, followed by a 15-day window for players to enter.
Boynton has said Michigan will continue the system developed under May, emphasizing dynamic wings and development paths to the NBA. Preseason polls had ranked the Wolverines among the nation's top teams before May's departure; keeping the roster intact limits the downside from the coaching change.
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