3 lessons Michigan must learn from Dusty May’s departure

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Once is by chance, twice a coincidence? Whether or not the trend of head coaches leaving directly after winning the national championship turns into an actual pattern remains to be seen (Brandon Naurato??), but the Michigan Wolverines cannot afford to bury their head in the sand following the departure of Dusty May.

While Jim Harbaugh’s exit was a long-time coming, May’s stint in Ann Arbor seemed far from over, even if the NBA was an eventual inevitability. Instead, the Wolverines are now again stuck holding the program together with duct tape during an awkward period on the calendar, hoping to preserve some sort of floor through this unplanned coaching transition.

None of this is ideal, but what is done is done. Here are three lessons I hope Warde Manuel and Michigan keep close following the second unideal coaching exit in the past three years.

Lesson 1: Stay flexible

Harbaugh and May both left Ann Arbor only after winning national championships and bringing their respective programs to heights unseen this century. Their ability to do so came from innovation, whether that be pushing the envelope with satellite camps and recruiting edges, or playing the NIL game and transfer portal in ways unfamiliar to this university.

The very traits that allowed these coaches to find success and what ultimately brought the professional leagues calling. The lesson for Michigan, then, is to recognize that this period in college athletics is only going to bring more and more change. The rules keep updating, the conferences realigning, and the skills needed to succeed keep switching as well. Acknowledging this reality is how programs will stay successful.

For Michigan, I think this means being ok with not seeking out a coach for the next decade-plus. Sure, everyone wanted May to establish a dynasty, but the game is so different than even when he was hired – imagine how drastically changed it will be in 10 years. I think the Wolverines did take on this mindset when hiring Kyle Whittingham, and it makes sense to bring this mentality to the hardwood as well.

Lesson 2: Build the bench

Winning the national championship means your season lasts as long a season can go…meaning any subsequent coaching change is going to happen when a lot of things are already decided. Often that leaves schools with no choice but to promote from within, whether that is temporary or Plan A going forward. This was the case with Sherrone Moore and Mike Boynton, even if the circumstances were not exactly the same.

Assistant coaches are always important, but from a continuity angle they become even more invaluable. Moore was able to preserve an impressive amount of the roster and Boynton looks to be doing the same, which always must be a consideration throughout the recruiting process, both from high school and the transfer portal.

No one wants to think about the head coach leaving, but at this point Michigan must consider that a real possibility at any given time. That means stocking up the coaching staff with capable replacements who have solid relationships with the players, able to hold down the fort through potential storms and capable of stepping right in on short notice.

Lesson 3: The Team, The Team, The Team

Above all, Michigan must continue to keep its brand as the most important factor. Coaches come and go even without championships or better job opportunities, but the one thing that stays – throughout any NCAA change – is the prestige of these programs. No man, no coach is more important than the team, and thankfully this is built into Michigan’s DNA.

Fans bemoan the transient nature of the transfer portal, with players more than willing to hop from school to school each offseason, but we cannot be naive to the fact that coaches often do not show any additional loyalty. This is absolutely their prerogative, and not necessarily anything new, but the Wolverines must accept the fact that their head coaches may not be willing to commit to a lifeline in Ann Arbor.

All this means is that the centerpiece must always be the brand. The program is what must drive players to Michigan, and the coaches must be willing to understand their role. Yes, Harbaugh and May are legends who elevated their teams to the pinnacle, but their true value is their contribution to the strength of their programs. It always has been about the Team; not that we needed a reminder, but this past month has certainly reinforced that truth.

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