Basketball
The Cowboys’ former coach is looking to spark a turnaround in the Big Ten.
Oklahoma State’s former coach is officially headed to Ann Arbor.
Mike Boynton announced on social media Friday that he will be coaching at Michigan next season. Although Boynton’s move to Michigan had been reported over the past few days, this was the first time he confirmed the news.
The time has arrived. Here. We. Go… Onward and Upward. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/4pZVmHT8fT
— Mike Boynton (@thacoachmike) April 12, 2024
Before joining Dusty May’s staff with the Wolverines this offseason, Boynton was the Cowboys’ head coach for the past seven seasons. The Cowboys fired Boynton after a 12-20 season, but he had his fair share of memorable moments in Stillwater.
Finishing with a 119-109 record from 2017-24, Boynton’s tenure was defined by his defense-first attitude. Often seen throwing his blazer back on the bench in intense moments, Boynton’s fiery nature as a coach gave him an advantage.
However, Boynton’s time at OSU was also defined by his lack of postseason success. In seven seasons, OSU made only one NCAA Tournament appearance during Boynton’s tenure.
In 2021, with future No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, the Cowboys went 21-9. In Boynton’s only season winning at least 60% of his games, the Cowboys knocked off eventual national champion Baylor in the Big 12 Tournament before falling to Texas in the championship game.
From there, OSU made the NCAA Tournament as a 4-seed, beating Liberty in the first round for the team’s first March Madness victory since 2009. Unfortunately for Boynton, OSU could not build on that success, with the team facing a postseason ban the next season.
A rough finish in 2023 ended OSU’s NCAA Tournament hopes in Boynton’s final winning season in Stillwater.
Despite his shortcomings at OSU, Boynton has shown his impressive recruiting ability and should be a solid addition at Michigan. As Michigan looks to rebound from its 8-24 season, Boynton could be an integral part of a turnaround, which could lead to another head coaching opportunity.
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