Dusty May talks John Beilein’s influence, potential role for him - 'whatever role he wants'
New Michigan basketball coach Dusty May was in his first year at Florida Atlantic when John Beilein was in his final season at U-M, and that was the first time the two crossed paths. May, though, had long been familiar with Beilein’s teams at West Virginia, even introducing some of his concepts to colleagues.
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It made great sense, then, for U-M athletic director Warde Manuel to have Beilein with him during the interview process Saturday, and Manuel praised Beilein for helping him in the last 5 days of his search. Sources said May was thrilled to have him there and answered all of Beilein’s questions “perfectly” to back up Manuel’s feeling that he was the right fit for the Michigan job.
“I’ve tried to take everything from just about everyone I’ve worked for and worked with, (even) assistant coaches,” May said at his introductory press conference. “You’re in the trenches with them, so you pick up things. But I studied Coach B’s teams at West Virginia when his son played for him, and Mike Gansey and all those guys. I actually worked with Darris Nichols (at Florida), a member of one of Coach Beilein’s better teams.
“But I told Coach B. the other day — and he didn’t remember, because he does this all the time — my first week on the job at Florida Atlantic as a young head coach, he walked the baseline in Indianapolis. I remember it like it was yesterday. He sat down next to me and he said, ‘you don’t know me.’ I said, ‘well, actually, I do. You’re a Hall of Fame coach, and hopefully I’m an employed coach in a couple years.’”
It was there that Beilein offered some sage advice.
“He sat down and told me the impact that we have as coaches in college and how important it is to never waver from the integrity of the game … the responsibilities we have as head coaches,” May recalled. “So, I’ve taken a lot of things from Coach B.
“Obviously, I watched his teams here. Several of his players have reached out, and I’m excited to develop those relationships and continue building on what all these coaches have done here.”
More than anything, May said, they talked basketball Saturday and what they thought was the best way to win at Michigan. He was then asked if he could foresee a role for Beilein at Michigan.
“I revere coaches, and [if] I see a legendary coach — I see legendary coaches here today that I’m going to stick my head in and watch them practice, see how they teach,” he said of some of the U-M coaches on hand to welcome him. “I revere coaches, and you have legendary coaches that have represented this institution and hung banners … absolutely.
“Whatever role he wants, I’m going to embrace it because I’m going to learn from him and use that … that information.”
Time will tell what that is. Some believe Beilein could return as an advisor or G.M. of sorts, or maybe even in an associate athletic director role. But as May noted, it makes sense to lean on one of the game’s best basketball minds, and to have that at his disposal can only help his program going forward.
