Michigan head coach Dusty May informed Michigan officials that he would not take part as a candidate in North Carolina’s coaching search — nor any other — ESPN reported on Sunday.
May, 49, has guided the Wolverines to the NCAA Championship Game in his second season in Ann Arbor. A year after he took them to the Sweet 16, May has the Wolverines sitting at 36-3 ahead of Monday’s championship matchup with UConn.
The Tarheels have been in pursuit of a new coach since firing Hubert Davis on March 24. The school is now facing a looming deadline of sorts with the transfer portal opening on Tuesday, yet it has also been doing due diligence with coaches still in the tournament.
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd had been squarely in North Carolina’s sights until Friday, when Lloyd was given a significant contract extension to remain with the Wildcats. That provoked speculation that the Tarheels could turn their attention to another Final Four coach.
As Lloyd’s new deal became public, May — whose buyout is $7 million — also addressed job rumors on Friday, reiterating his commitment to Michigan.
“After last year, I decided that I’ll never, ever respond to any job speculation,” May said. “I think it’s well-documented how happy I am at Michigan. Obviously, my private life, my personal life, my family, their happiness is very important.”
Interestingly, Lloyd and May squared off on Saturday, with May’s Wolverines winning a one-sided affair, 91-73.
North Carolina finished 24-9 with a first-round exit in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Iowa State’s T.J. Otzelberger and Alabama’s Nate Oats have also publicly taken themselves out of the running in recent days. Other reported candidates include the Chicago Bulls’ Billy Donovan and Vanderbilt’s Mark Byington, among others.
