​Michigan officially removed the interim label from Mike Boynton Jr.’s title and on Friday, July 10 named him the head coach, initiating a two-year contract as detailed in a program release. Athletic director Warde Manuel praised Boynton, saying, “Mike is a veteran assistant with strong head coaching experience and a clear understanding of the standard we expect at Michigan. Over the past two seasons, he has been an invaluable member of our staff, bringing stability, leadership and perspective during an important period of success.” Photographs captured Boynton at an open practice at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 3, 2026, underscoring his active role with the Wolverines as he enters this new chapter.
Manuel added that “Our players and staff believe in his vision, are committed to his leadership and are excited for the opportunity to pursue great success together this season.” Boynton’s promotion follows the abrupt departure of Dusty May, who left the program to become head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. In the weeks since, Boynton has been actively focused on re-recruiting the Michigan roster. To date, 13 of the 14 scholarship players have reaffirmed their commitment to the Wolverines, with junior guard L.J. Cason as the final decision still pending.
Entering his third year with Michigan, Boynton has made a substantial impact as both a recruiter and a defensive specialist. In the first two seasons under his watch, the Wolverines compiled a 64-13 record, capturing a Big Ten regular-season title, a Big Ten Tournament title and, most notably, the program’s second national championship in April, capping a 37-3 overall season and adding another storied achievement to Michigan’s basketball history.
“I’m grateful to Warde for his confidence and thankful for the opportunity to lead this program,” Boynton said in a statement. “We have built a championship culture and a standard that everyone associated with this program takes great pride in. We have an outstanding group of players, and I’m excited to get to work and continue the success we’ve established together.” He also noted his eagerness to guide the team through the upcoming season and to continue pushing the Wolverines toward continued excellence.
This is a developing story, and additional updates will follow. Tony Garcia remains the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. He can be reached at apgarcia@freepress.com and followed on X at @RealTonyGarcia. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press.