Former Oklahoma State head coach, Mike Boynton is now a national champion with the Michigan Wolverines. OKST Roundtable’s own publisher Tyler Jones caught up with Boynton following Michigan’s win over the UCONN Huskies.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The road to the Final Four ended in Indianapolis, Indiana on Monday night.
It ended with former Oklahoma State head coach, now an assistant head coach under Dusty May, winning a national championship with the Michigan Wolverines.
OKST Roundtable’s publisher, Tyler Jones got the chance to catch up with Boynton post game to discuss his journey to the championship.
In the glow of the Michigan Wolverines’ national championship victory over UConn, assistant coach Mike Boynton sat down with OKST Roundtable publisher Tyler Jones for an emotional interview.
Boynton, now a national champion after guiding Michigan to the title, called the moment “something I couldn’t even really envision just a little over two years ago” when he was fired as head coach at Oklahoma State.
Boynton had served as Oklahoma State’s head coach from 2017 until his dismissal in 2024. The abrupt end to his tenure at Oklahoma State was bittersweet as either side didn’t want to see it end in the way it did, but it proved transformative. “That moment also helped me reset,” he told Jones, “and Dustin gave me an opportunity to join his program and to execute his vision.” Under head coach Dusty May, Boynton found a new home and a new purpose in Ann Arbor.
What made this Michigan team special, Boynton explained, was not just talent but extraordinary unselfishness. “Just their own self-assist,” he said. Star guard Elliott was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, yet Boynton noted it easily could have gone to Di Mara.
Forward Lendeborg battled through injury despite NBA draft concerns. Seniors Roddy Gale and Will Cheddar willingly came off the bench, Gale in his final year, Cheddar after returning for another season, and accepted fewer shots.
The veterans also poured time into developing freshman Trey McKinney. Those sacrifices, Boynton emphasized, reflected “the commitment to one another” that turned a talented roster into champions.
Boynton described his two-year journey alongside May as “indescribable.” He feels as if he walks into a classroom every day, learning from a coach who speaks on a personal level about the big picture while demanding excellence in every responsibility. “I’m really happy. My family’s happy,” he said of life in Michigan’s well-resourced program.
Looking ahead, Boynton is in no hurry to leave. He plans to “work as hard as I can for Dusty” until another opportunity presents itself. For now, the former Oklahoma State head coach is content contributing to a championship culture he helped build.
The interview captured more than a victory celebration. It illustrated the power of selfless teamwork, qualities that carried Michigan to the top and gave Boynton a second act richer than he once imagined.
Maybe Boynton could one day return to Oklahoma State to build something identical to his new experiences at Michigan?