Michigan head coach Dusty May once a candidate for Ohio State job

Q: Why was Dusty May linked to Ohio State’s coaching search?

Dusty May was one of the top candidates for the Ohio State men’s basketball job in March 2024. The Dispatch reported that he and Jake Diebler were the two finalists for the position.

Q: Who did Ohio State hire instead of Dusty May?

Ohio State hired Jake Diebler on March 17, 2024. Diebler won the job despite having no full-time head coaching experience beyond his brief stint as interim coach.

Q: When did Michigan hire Dusty May?

Michigan hired Dusty May on March 23, 2024. He was brought in ahead of the 2024-25 season after coaching Florida Atlantic.

Q: What has Dusty May done at Michigan?

Dusty May quickly turned Michigan around. The Wolverines made the NCAA Tournament in his first season after missing March Madness in the two seasons before his arrival.

Q: How did Dusty May and Jake Diebler compare after taking their jobs?

Both coaches reached the NCAA Tournament with their new programs, but May’s Michigan team went much further. Diebler’s Ohio State team made March Madness in his second season as a No. 8 seed but lost in the first round to No. 9 TCU.

The national championship-winning coach was once a finalist to lead the Ohio State men's basketball team.

On April 6, No. 1 Michigan took down No. 2 UConn 69-63 to win its first NCAA men's basketball title since 1989. The Wolverines hired former Florida Atlantic University head coach Dusty May ahead of the 2024-25 season.

The Dispatch reported in March 2024 that May was previously one of the top candidates to become the OSU men's basketball coach. In fact, he and evenual Buckeyes' bench boss Jake Diebler were the two finalists. Diebler was hired at Ohio State on March 17, 2024.

Ohio State Buckeyes Amare Bynum (1) dribbles the ball against Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Micah Robinson (5) in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot takes the floor in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Brock Harding (2) dribbles the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Ohio State Buckeyes Jake Diebler reacts in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Ohio State Buckeyes Christoph Tilly (13) grabs a rebound past Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Brock Harding (2) in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Ohio State Buckeyes Amare Bynum (1) grabs a rebound against Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Xavier Edmonds (24) in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Xavier Edmonds (24) shoots the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Jayden Pierre (1) shoots the ball against Ohio State Buckeyes Christoph Tilly (13) in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

The Ohio State Buckeyes mascot takes the floor in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

Ohio State Buckeyes Jake Diebler reacts in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

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Buckeyes take on Horned Frogs in 1st round

Diebler won the job with no head coaching experience beyond his brief tenure as Ohio State's interim. After Chris Holtmann's firing and a 4-10 Big Ten record to start the year, Diebler led the Buckeyes to an 8-3 record (5-1 in the Big Ten) when he took over, narrowly missing out on March Madness.

Ohio State missed out on the 2024-25 NCAA Tournament. Diebler reached March Madness in his second season as a No. 8 seed. Ohio State lost in the first round to No. 9 TCU.

May led FAU to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Final Four appearance as a No. 9 seed in 2022-23. Michigan hired May on March 23, 2024, and he spearheaded a quick rebuild. The Wolverines made the NCAA Tournament in May's first season after having missed out on March Madness the two seasons prior.

Michigan Wolverines head coach Dusty May motions during the second half of the NCAA men's basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Feb. 8, 2026. Ohio State lost 82-61.

See how Ohio State fans are reacting to Dusty May's success and Ohio State choosing Diebler over May below.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Michigan head coach Dusty May was finalist at Ohio State