As Michigan begins its search for a replacement for national championship-winning head coach Dusty May, one name continues to gain traction near the top of the candidate list.

Saint Louis head coach Josh Schertz.

While replacing a coach who just delivered a national title is never easy, Schertz possesses many of the qualities Michigan should be seeking as it attempts to maintain its place among college basketball’s elite programs.

A Familiar Connection to Dusty May

One reason Schertz immediately stands out is his relationship with May.

The two coaches have developed a close friendship over the years, and their basketball philosophies share several similarities. Both have earned reputations as innovative offensive minds capable of maximizing talent and building winning cultures.

If Michigan wants to maintain much of the foundation May established, Schertz could offer one of the smoothest transitions available.

One of College Basketball’s Fastest-Rising Coaches

Schertz has quietly built one of the most impressive coaching resumes in the country.

After beginning his career as a student assistant at Florida Atlantic, he worked his way through assistant coaching stops before taking over at Lincoln Memorial in 2008.

What followed was remarkable.

Over 13 seasons, Schertz led Lincoln Memorial to 11 consecutive 20-win seasons, four 30-win campaigns, and 10 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. He was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year a record seven times and became known as one of the winningest coaches in college basketball.

His overall head coaching record currently stands at an astonishing 451-130.

Success Has Followed Him Everywhere

Schertz proved his success wasn’t limited to Division II.

After taking over at Indiana State in 2021, he transformed the Sycamores into one of the nation’s best mid-major programs. His breakthrough came during the 2023-24 season when Indiana State won 32 games and became one of the biggest stories in college basketball.

That success led Saint Louis to hire him in 2024.

In just two seasons with the Billikens, Schertz has continued to build momentum, guiding the program to an Atlantic 10 regular-season championship and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament this past season.

Not surprisingly, his name has surfaced in connection with several major openings, including Syracuse and NC State earlier this year.

Why Michigan Should Be Interested

Michigan does not need a rebuilding specialist.

The Wolverines need someone capable of sustaining championship expectations.

With a roster expected to remain among the nation’s most talented groups, the next coach will inherit a team that should compete immediately for a Big Ten title and a Final Four berth.

Schertz has demonstrated an ability to win at every level, develop players, build culture, and adapt quickly when taking over new programs.

Those traits make him one of the most intriguing candidates available.

The Challenge

The biggest obstacle is convincing him to leave Saint Louis.

Schertz recently signed a new contract and appears firmly entrenched with the Billikens. However, Michigan is one of the handful of jobs in college basketball capable of attracting virtually any coach in the country.

If athletic director Warde Manuel decides to pursue Schertz, there is little doubt he would be one of the strongest candidates on the board.

And given his track record, it’s easy to see why.

Losing a national championship-winning head coach is difficult enough.

For Michigan basketball, the bigger concern may be what happens next.

With reports indicating that Dusty May is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, the Wolverines suddenly find themselves facing a scenario that could threaten much more than just their coaching staff. The future of a roster built to compete for another national championship may now be at stake.

The NCAA Transfer Portal Clock Is Ticking

Michigan’s coaching search will dominate headlines over the coming days, but the most important storyline could involve the players already on the roster.

Earlier this year, the NCAA implemented a new rule that gives players a special 15-day transfer portal window when a head coaching change occurs. That window begins five days after a new head coach is hired or publicly announced.

If Michigan does not make a hire within the next 30 days, the portal window will automatically open.

That means every scholarship player on the roster could suddenly have the opportunity to explore other options.

Michigan Has Too Much Talent to Lose

The timing could not be worse.

Point guard Elliot Cadeau returns to lead the offense, while Trey McKenney is expected to take on a much larger role after an impressive freshman season. The Wolverines also added impact transfers Moustapha Thiam, J.P. Estrella, and Jalen Reed to strengthen the frontcourt.

The future looks just as bright.

Five-star guard Brandon McCoy headlines a recruiting class ranked among the nation’s best, while Michigan remains involved with highly sought-after international prospect Nikola Kusturica.

On paper, the Wolverines have all the pieces necessary to compete for another Final Four.

That is exactly why roster retention has suddenly become such a critical issue.

The New Coach’s First Challenge

Whoever replaces May will inherit one of the most talented rosters in college basketball.

The problem is making sure that roster remains intact long enough to coach it.

At this stage of the offseason, there are very few impact players left available through the transfer portal. International recruiting options are limited, and there are not enough late additions available to replace multiple key contributors if departures begin.

Simply put, Michigan cannot afford a roster exodus.

The next head coach’s first assignment will not be implementing an offense or installing a defensive system.

It will be convincing players to stay.

Why This Is Michigan’s Worst-Case Scenario

Replacing Dusty May was always going to be difficult.

Replacing Dusty May while simultaneously trying to prevent key players from entering the transfer portal would be far more damaging.

Michigan still has the talent to contend for a Big Ten championship and make another deep NCAA Tournament run. But those expectations are built on the assumption that the roster remains largely intact.

If the coaching search drags on or uncertainty begins to spread throughout the program, that foundation could quickly become unstable.

The Wolverines can survive losing a coach.

What they cannot afford to lose is the roster he spent the last two years building.