Dusty May hasn’t even signed his Michigan extension yet, and already he’s drawing NBA buzz. For the Chicago Bulls, that makes the rising coach a name worth watching.
During the Final Four celebrations in Indianapolis last month, Michigan AD Warde Manuel insinuated that they had signed their head coach Dusty May to a contract extension which naturally had the entire Wolverine faithful to celebrate the news. Dusty's name had come up with other collegiate opportunities and was mentioned as a possibility to jump to the NBA. The Michigan Wolverines ultimately ended up winning the National Championship this past season to cap it all off.
However, recently Amanda Christovich filed a records request asking for the details of the extension Dusty had signed with Michigan and found out that no such extension had yet been signed and that terms were still being negotiated.
This may all just be minor details that need to be worked out but it could also be a scenario where Dusty understands that there is a possibility he will be losing three of his best players from his championship team to the NBA draft, and may decide he wants to capitalize on his success and try his skills at the highest level of the NBA.
If that were the case, he would be a prime candidate for the Chicago Bulls as they look to redefine who they are as an organization after the Billy Donovan era.
Dusty May's path to the top has been long, steady, and unconventional. He began his coaching career in the mid-2000s at Eastern Michigan, working in a support role that included recruiting, compliance, academics and scheduling.
After stints at UAB, Murray State and Louisiana Tech, May joined Mike White's staff at Florida. Across 13 seasons as an assistant coach, Dusty built his reputation as an evaluator, recruiter and teacher. He came up in a way that may not seem glamorous but shows he is willing to work through the grind and is not afraid of it.
May was finally given the opportunity of being a head coach at Florida Atlantic in 2018, and quickly transformed the Owls into one of the better mid-majors in the country. In his six seasons at FAU, he led the program to its first regular-season and conference tournament titles and guided the Owls to the Final Four in 2023 which was one of the most memorable "Cinderella" runs in recent memory.
For the Bulls, May would represent a swing at taking a modern approach as opposed to the normal recycling through the same coaches that is common in the NBA. The Bulls need someone who carries with him not just player development and organization, but someone who with that can bring a layer of confidence in the implementation of his plan. Dusty is someone who can do that.
He has gone through the grind and worked in different environments and systems. He has recruited at all levels and proven that he can elevate his team to results not necessarily correlated with the talent in the locker room.
There will always be a question of fit with any potential candidate. May seems to bring with him a sense of steadiness. He helped Florida Atlantic over achieve and make it to the Final Four despite having inferior rosters and resources. And then when he made the move to Michigan and was given an ample amount of both, he won a National Title which shows he has no problem handling the big stage.
Whether the Bulls ultimately decide to pursue Dusty will be the decision of whom they hire as their General Manager. But if Chicago is looking for a candidate that has reached the top of the mountain not by luck, but by substance, then May belongs right at the top of that list.