5 Potential Head Coach Candidates for the Michigan Wolverines

Dusty May shocked the college basketball world by taking a job in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. The college basketball coaching carousel is now still rolling. Here are 5 Potential Head Coach Candidates for the Michigan Wolverines.

1. Mike Boynton

Boynton was already promoted to interim coach for Michigan and would keep things steady as a former assistant. He has been on staff at Michigan since 2024. Players already have a relationship with him and this late in the coaching cycle, the best option may be to give him the year to see if he can be a long-term option.

He does have some experience as a head coach before, as he led Oklahoma State for seven seasons. Boynton made one NCAA Tournament appearance during his time, which was during the 2020-21 season. Overall, he posted a 119-109 record during his time at Oklahoma State. Michigan could stick with him for the easy transition, but could maybe transfer into going after a more accomplished coach.

2. Billy Donovan

Donovan reportedly wanted to return to college, but didn’t want to leave an NBA team in-season. Now that he doesn’t have an NBA job, a return to college could be in store. Donovan won two championships at Florida and has posted a 467-186 record during his time as a college coach.

A hire of Donovan would bring a championship-level coach to the program while one exits. Donovan didn’t have the success in the NBA that he did in college and will have to adjust to an entirely new landscape across college basketball. Taking a chance on Donovan, with some help to navigate NIL and other new things in college basketball, could be the fastest way to compete right away.

3. Josh Shertz

Shertz could’ve gone to a power conference job this offseason, but decided to stay with Saint Louis. In five seasons as a Division-I head coach, he has posted a 114-61 record over time with Indiana State and Saint Louis. The 2025-2026 season was the first year he was able to make the NCAA Tournament, but he has been close before as well and won a lot of games.

While he could’ve taken other jobs this offseason, Shertz signed an extension with Michigan. Michigan could afford the buy-out and could get one of the better coaches on the market. Shertz has some similarities to Dusty May with his rise in low and mid-major basketball and taking the job at Michigan could give him more resources than he has ever had.

4. Nate Oats

Will Nate Oats take the job? Probably not, he’s turned big jobs down before. But he did coach high school basketball for over 10 years in the state. Over his time as a college coach, he has led both Buffalo and Alabama. He has a 266-116 record and made a Final Four at Alabama.

Oats is qualified for the job, but he also seems happy at Alabama. Michigan should put feelers out there to see if he would accept the job, but it might take some extra money to sway him away from Alabama. If he isn’t interested, they can move on quickly to several other qualified coaches.

5. Ben McCollum

McCollum has climbed the coaching ladder well over the last few seasons. From Division II to Drake to Iowa, McCollum has proven to coach well. He coached one season at Drake, where he had a 31-4 record and made the NCAA Tournament. In his one season at Iowa, he made the NCAA Tournament again and made the Elite Eight. Before this, when he coached Division II, he won national championships.

It may be tough for McCollum to leave the state of Iowa, as that is where he has made magic happen over the last several years. This might be a time for him to jump jobs, though, as his star player, Bennett Stirtz, is out of eligibility. McCollum should be considered, especially if they strike out with some of the top-of-the-line coaches they reach out to.  

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