John Beilein ‘I will be available’ to help Michigan basketball, Dusty May

It was the start of a new era for the Michigan basketball program on Tuesday as Dusty May, the new head coach, was introduced by the Wolverines.

Winning the press conference is overblown and it doesn’t mean anything in terms of actually winning games. However, Dusty May won the first press conference and laid out his vision for Michigan basketball.

John Beilein, the head coach responsible for turning Michigan basketball into a blue blood, was central in bringing May to Ann Arbor. Warde Manuel talked about relying on Beilein’s advice, which stemmed from a 90-minute phone call the two men shared shortly after the coaching search began.

John Beilein offers endorsement of Dusty for Michigan basketball

Manuel wanted May and Beilein offered his endorsement. He even offered his service as a recruiter of sorts to smooth over any concerns May might have about building a winner at Michigan.

Whatever Beilein said, it worked. May and Manuel agreed to a contract on Sunday night and the rest as they say is history. Success isn’t guaranteed, you get the sense that like former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, May will find success or die trying.

In other words, he won’t be outworked — something multiple people have said. After Beilein offered his endorsement to Manuel, he posted his first public comments on X Tuesday evening.