Former Gamecock gets chance to be head coach for national champ Michigan
A former Gamecock is getting his shot to lead a big-time program.
Former South Carolina point guard and assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. will be the interim coach at Michigan, per Monday reports from ESPN and On3 Sports.
Boynton’s promotion comes in the wake of UM coach Dusty May leaving to coach the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. May led the Wolverines to a 37-3 record and their first national championship since 1989 this season and was 64-13 overall.
Given the timing of May’s departure, Boynton will likely be named interim coach for Michigan’s entire season and have a chance to earn the full-time role later on.
Boynton, 44, has worked for Michigan since 2024 as an assistant coach and the team’s defensive coordinator. He previously spent seven seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State, where he recruited and coached future No. 1 overall draft pick Cade Cunningham. He was 119-109 (.522) overall with the Cowboys.
A quick rise in college basketball
Boynton was a four-year player at South Carolina from 2001-04 during the Dave Odom era. As a senior in 2004, he started at point guard for a USC team that won 23 games, reached the NCAA Tournament and was ranked No. 23 in the final AP poll.
Boynton made 79 3-pointers that year, the fourth most in a single season in program history. His 125 career games played are No. 10 in program history.
After finishing his playing career, Boynton coached in-state at Furman, Coastal Carolina and Wofford before rejoining the Gamecocks from 2008-13 as an assistant coach, primarily during Darrin Horn’s tenure.
Boynton is popular with UM’s players. By naming him interim coach, Michigan should retain top players like former UNC guard and reigning Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau for this season, as opposed to them transferring.
May raved about Boynton in a news conference at the 2026 Final Four in April.
“He’s an elite basketball coach,” May said. “He did a really good job at Oklahoma State, especially considering the circumstances. ... I’m the head coach at Michigan, but he’s just as good as I am. He’s just as prepared. He’s been invaluable for me.”
Mike Boynton’s playing, coaching career
- 2001-04: South Carolina (player)
- 2004-05: Furman (grad assistant)
- 2005-07: Coastal Carolina (assistant coach)
- 2007-08: Wofford (associate head coach)
- 2008-13: South Carolina (assistant coach)
- 2013-16: Stephen F. Austin (assistant coach)
- 2016-17: Oklahoma State (assistant coach)
- 2017-24: Oklahoma State (head coach)
- 2024-26: Michigan (assistant coach)
- 2026-present: Michigan (interim head coach)
This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Former Gamecock gets chance to be head coach for national champ Michigan."
