MICHIGAN MEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES COACHING STAFF FOR 2024-25 SEASON

Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines have officially announced his coaching staff for his first season at the helm.

In a news release from the program on Thursday afternoon, May announced the additions of six new members of the staff, with links to each staff page embedded in the respective coach’s name:

• Mike Boynton Jr., assistant coach

• Justin Joyner, assistant coach

• Akeem Miskdeen, assistant coach

• Kyle Church, assistant coach/general manager

• Drew Williamson, assistant coach/director of player development

• Brandon Gilbert, special assistant to the head coach

The news of Boynton’s hiring was first reported at the beginning of April. He was the head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys the past seven seasons. He ended his tenure with an overall record of 119-109, including an NCAA Tournament appearance. Boynton will have a positive impact on recruiting, as he managed to get No. 1 overall pick and Detroit Piston star Cade Cunningham to play for him at Oklahoma State.

“I’m ecstatic for this opportunity to work at a world-class institution like the University of Michigan,” Boynton said in the release. “The Michigan brand is one of the strongest in the world, and having the chance to assist in re-establishing the Wolverines as a championship program is a responsibility I will not take lightly. Most important for me, it is the opportunity to work for, and with, an elite winner like Coach May. My family and I cannot wait to move to Ann Arbor and get started on restoring the pride of all of the great Wolverines worldwide.”

Joyner comes from Saint Mary’s, where he had been since the 2017-18 working as both an assistant coach and an associate head coach. Saint Mary’s has appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times during Joyner’s time on staff, including Round of 32 appearances in 2022 and 2023 and a Round of 64 exit this year.

“When I learned about the opportunity to work with Coach May at the University of Michigan, I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Joyner said in the release. “Working at a place with the rich tradition of Michigan and with a coach and person of Dusty’s caliber is invigorating. I feel incredibly fortunate to join this staff, and although there is a lot of work ahead of us, I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge. I am excited to embark on the journey of building a program that can contend for and win championships.”

Miskdeen has been involved in basketball for the last 15 years, coaching at Florida Atlantic for three seasons (2018-21) and most recently serving as an assistant with Georgia Bulldogs. Like Boynton, the news of his hiring was first reported earlier this month.

“My family and I are extremely blessed and excited to join the University of Michigan,” Miskdeen said in the release. “Reuniting with Coach May makes this opportunity even more special. Growing up watching the Big Ten, particularly Michigan Basketball, I know the strength of this program and league. Becoming a small part of its rich tradition and history means so much to me. I am going to work relentlessly to add to all of it and make sure we have every chance to succeed — on and off the floor.”

Church has been a right-hand man for May in 12 of his 14 seasons as a coach, working with May at Louisiana Tech, Florida and Florida Atlantic. He was a key part of FAU’s success the last few seasons, and having another familiar face on staff will be huge for May.

“My basketball career has taken me to several special places, but I couldn’t be more excited to join the community of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan,” Church said in the release. “I am very thankful, and fortunate, to have worked alongside coach May for well over the last decade. He is a tireless worker and has a great basketball mind. I look forward to supporting him, our staff and our players. I am excited to help the block ‘M’ back to the top of the Big Ten and the national landscape.”

Williamson also worked with May at Florida Atlantic, and spent eight seasons at Virginia State, six as an assistant coach and two as an associate head coach. He helped Virginia State make four appearances in the NCAA DII Tournament.

“I’m honored to join the coaching staff at the University of Michigan under Coach May,” Williamson said in the release. “Working, and learning, from him over the last three years has been a blessing. As a fan of the Big Ten, I fully understand the importance of the Wolverines and the significance of the block M in the world of college sports. The league has an unparalleled reputation and prestige. I look forward to bringing my passion for the game and love for developing outstanding young men to the program.”

Gilbert has spent the last six seasons coaching at FAU with May. Before that, he spent four seasons (2014-18) as the Director of Basketball Operations at Samford University, and he was with the Bulldogs for their first win over a Big Ten team (Nebraska in 2015).

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Coach May’s staff at the University of Michigan,” Gilbert said. “I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to work alongside incredible people each day and under the leadership of Coach May. Michigan is a world-class institution and I am honored to represent such a prestigious university and revered athletic department.”

With this news now official, additions in the transfer portal should be coming any day now. Stay with Maize n Brew for the latest updates on that front, and be sure to bookmark our portal tracker.

2024-04-18T20:02:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd