The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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44 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2025 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan basketball coach Dusty May exceeded all expectations in his first year on the job, winning a Big Ten Tournament title and taking the Wolverines to the Sweet 16. Some ru- mored him as a candidate for the vacant Indiana job — his alma mater — and others suggested he might be on the wish list for other elite programs. But May has always maintained he loves it in Ann Arbor and sees himself coaching the Wolverines for a long time. He reiterated that in mid-July at a press conference. "Hopefully, I'm here at Michigan for a long time," he said before answer- ing questions about his talented 2025 squad. "I probably will be up here with an optimistic outlook every year going into the season." That's in large part to his efforts coaching his team and on the recruiting trail, where he's been relentless since arriving. All of it added up to a contract extension the coach agreed to in Febru- ary, the details obtained by the Detroit News in late July. May's salary increased from $3.825 million to $4.6 million in base pay this season. That figure will increase by $250,000 every year until it reaches $5.6 million in the fifth year. All contracts have buyouts, and May's starts at $7 million and drops each year. It falls to $5 million in 2026-27, $3 million in 2027-28, $2 million in 2028-29 and $1 million in 2029-30. If Michigan were to fire May without cause, the school would owe him the rest of his base salary. The five-year, $25.5 million contract also offers him the opportunity to make more with bonuses. May will receive $50,000 if he wins the outright Big Ten regular season title, $25,000 for a share of the league title, $50,000 for winning the conference tournament, $50,000 for winning Big Ten Coach of the Year, and $50,000 for winning national coach of the year. U-M FRESHMEN GUARDS ARE IMPRESSING EARLY Michigan head coach Dusty May signed a five-man class including Mich- igan Mr. Basketball and McDonald's All- American Trey McKenney, outstanding wing Winters Grady, top-100 big man Oscar Goodman, 7-foot German Ma- lick Kordel and under-the-radar wing Patrick Liburd. All were on campus by the end of July and impressing in vari- ous ways, led by McKenney and Grady in the early going. McKenney's teammates have gone on record to say he doesn't look or play like a freshman. One source close to the program said there are days he's been the best player on the floor, high praise given the talent level at Michigan. May confirmed McKenney and Grady have been all that and more in the early going during a July press conference. "The role for the freshmen is re- ally going to be up to them," he said. "We don't go into the season with guys sharpening into starting spots or posi- tions or roles. Each guy brings some- thing different to the table … traits, ma- turity, and physicality. "I have a few coaching friends that we share practice film and share ideas, talk about it on each other's teams. I was sitting with one of them recently when I was on the road recruiting, and he said, 'Who's number one?' I said, "I don't know all our guys' numbers. They switch and this and that … de- scribe him. ❱ MICHIGAN BASKETBALL Details Of Dusty May's New Contract Revealed May brought a relentless determination and work ethic to the Michigan program, guiding his first squad to the Big Ten Tournament title and an NCAA run to the Sweet 16. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL