Michigan Secures Mike Boynton Jr. as New Head Coach for Two Years

WHO:

ESPN - Jon Palumbo has been named interim athletic director at Michigan State.

ESPN - Kevin Guskiewicz is the president of Michigan State.

ESPN - Mike Boynton Jr. is the new head men's basketball coach at Michigan.

ESPN - Warde Manuel is the athletic director at Michigan.

ESPN - Dusty May was the previous head coach who left for the Dallas Mavericks.

ESPN - Trey McKenney is a projected starting guard for Michigan.

ESPN - Elliot Cadeau is the starting point guard and Final Four Most Outstanding Player.

ESPN - J.P. Estrella is a transfer from Tennessee.

ESPN - Moustapha Thiam is a transfer from Cincinnati.

ESPN - Brandon McCoy Jr. is a five-star recruit.

ESPN - L.J. Cason is a returning guard who tore his right ACL.

ESPN - Cade Cunningham was a future No. 1 NBA draft pick under Boynton at Oklahoma State.

WHAT:

ESPN - Jon Palumbo will replace outgoing AD J Batt, who will officially leave on July 27.

ESPN - Michigan State will receive a $3.95 million contract buyout from Kentucky for J Batt's departure.

ESPN - Mike Boynton Jr. has agreed to a two-year contract as head coach.

ESPN - Boynton served as interim head coach since Dusty May's departure.

ESPN - Michigan is currently ranked No. 5 in ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25.

ESPN - Boynton retained nearly the entire roster after May's exit.

ESPN - Trey McKenney announced his intention to stay hours after the coaching change.

ESPN - Elliot Cadeau reaffirmed his commitment days after the coaching change.

ESPN - J.P. Estrella and Moustapha Thiam reaffirmed their commitments last week.

ESPN - Brandon McCoy Jr. opted to stay on July 4.

ESPN - L.J. Cason is expected to potentially miss the entire 2026-27 campaign.

WHERE:

ESPN - The events are taking place at Michigan.

WHEN:

ESPN - J Batt's first day at Kentucky will be July 28.

WHY:

ESPN - Guskiewicz stated that Palumbo has been integral to the innovation of MSU Athletics over the past year.

ESPN - Boynton expressed gratitude to Warde Manuel for the opportunity to lead the program.

ESPN - Boynton stated that a championship culture has been built at Michigan.

HOW:

ESPN - Palumbo was previously the athletic director at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from 2018-2022 before joining Michigan State.

ESPN - Boynton was hired shortly after Dusty May arrived at Michigan in 2024, taking on defensive coordinator duties.

ESPN - Boynton helped architect the nation's No. 1 defense during the Wolverines' championship season.

ESPN - Warde Manuel described Boynton as a veteran assistant with strong head coaching experience.

Jon Palumbo has been named the interim athletic director at Michigan State, stepping in to replace outgoing AD J Batt, who will officially depart for Kentucky on July 27. Michigan State will receive a $3.95 million contract buyout from Kentucky due to Batt's exit, with his first day at the new position set for July 28. Kevin Guskiewicz, the president of Michigan State, highlighted Palumbo's significant contributions to the innovation of MSU Athletics over the past year, noting his previous role as athletic director at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from 2018 to 2022.