The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544538
74 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2026 T he year before he abruptly l e f t M i c h i ga n fo r t h e C l e v e l a n d C a v a l i e r s , John Beilein dropped hints that he might not be much longer for the U-M job. He told report- ers (including us) his decision to move on wouldn't be some long, drawn-out affair or goodbye tour — no one-year notice in which he was presented with rocking chairs pregame from rivals, etc. — just a snap of the fingers and "poof." We kept quiet when we first heard rumors about flirtation with the Cavs, but a week before it was officially announced, we could sense the end was near. Having already been on the road nonstop after his Wolverines lost to Texas Tech in the 2019 Sweet 16, and coming off heart surgery the pre- vious August, Beilein looked ex- hausted. On May 13, 2019, he made his departure official. Most Michigan basketball fans remember where they were when they heard the news. That's how big an impact the coach made in his 12 years. And while we were as devastated, as well, it was hard not to be happy for the coach that he fi- nally got some time for himself. "I knew I was getting worn out," Beilein said. "If you watched our teams, the great thing about the rules change is we got a lot better when they allowed us to work with kids in the summer. ... We could spend four hours a week with individuals, but that also took the summer away. I was never going to miss an individual work- out. I was either doing that or recruiting. We had that beautiful house up north, and I was thinking, 'When will I be able to enjoy this thing?' "… There are times you just feel so tired." Being on the road for an entire month didn't help, either. That's when second- round NBA contracts were starting to be guaranteed, and players like Ignas Braz- deikis and Jordan Poole were going to leave because of it. In listening to the Hall of Famer speak, we couldn't help but draw parallels to Dusty May's agenda after leading U-M to its first national title since 1989. Yeah, he was clearly happy for his players, family, the fans, etc., but it was also clear there was something else on his mind. He explained just what that was in speaking to CBS' Jon Rothstein. "When I did the interview with [Dan] Hurley before the game and they asked him what it's like to hoist that trophy, he said, 'You've been to the Final Four — it's a thousand times better than that.' "And I don't know if it's just me, but I'd heard where you climb the ladder and you say, 'Is this really it?' And it was worse. It was less than 'it.' "The journey was so much better than the destination. The finality of it all is almost disappointing, because you have one of the most special groups of humans you'll ever be around. And at that moment, it all ends." And, as Beilein noted, the work starts over. Only now, it's cra- zier than ever with the transfer portal, and it's only going to get worse with NIL salaries rising. It makes you wonder — how long can a coach survive it, even one with as much energy as May? "Literally, it's such a blur be- cause there's no time to cele- brate," May acknowledged. "You meet with your seniors, you do exit meetings, you're meeting with your players. … Then, plug- ging holes in your roster, trying to make sure you're generating NIL opportunities and attracting businesses." All of which are things he wouldn't have to worry about in the NBA, for example. May has said Michigan would "absolutely" be his last collegiate stop, but some have suggested the League might be next. Others have told us he loves the college game and that might keep him around. That might depend on how easy the higher-ups make it to do his job. Champions Circle collective has come a long way in helping on the financial side, and May's assistants have been active. From travel arrangements to expanding the recruiting department, maybe adding a G.M., there should be options to help take some things off his plate and make his job easier. Athletics director Warde Manuel has said he'd give May every resource he needs to be successful. What that is should be up to the coach, and it should be granted as soon as possible. Like Beilein, May's already proven he's not about the money, agreeing to come back before terms were even dis- cussed. It's time for him to be able to relax a bit and be able to appreciate what he's accomplished. ❏ May agreed to a new contract immediately following the season. U-M's next step needs to be making sure the championship coach has all the resources and options available to help take some things off his plate and make his job easier. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Chris Balas has been with The Wolverine since 1997. Contact him at cbalas@ thewolverine.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @Balas _ Wolverine. INSIDE MICHIGAN ❱ CHRIS BALAS Dusty May's Pact Was Only Step 1