FAU’s Dusty May Admits He Nearly Quit Owls Job on First Day

He led the team to a Final Four berth in this year’s NCAA men’s tournament.

Before Dusty May helped lead the Florida Atlantic men’s basketball team to a Final Four berth this year, the coach nearly quit on his first day with the program back in 2018, he admitted to CBS Sports’s Matt Norlander.

It was May’s first time as a head coach of a collegiate program, but the decision actually made him cry.

“I walk in the room and I started crying [to his wife Anna] and said, ‘I just committed career suicide. I’m not good enough. I can’t do this,’” May said.

May, who had come off a three season stint as a Florida assistant coach, didn’t even see the basketball facilities before accepting the job and he admitted he was shocked when he saw how outdated they were.

“When I get to the gym, there’s a pickup game going on,” May said. “The facilities weren’t up to par. And I had already accepted the job.”

This first day on the job overwhelmed May, and he even considered returning to his previous job with Florida. But, athletic director Brian White and his brother Mike convinced May to stay at FAU.

“I knew we just had a lot of work even to fill a competitive roster,” May said. “I would’ve left and went back to Gainesville after signing the contract if it wasn’t for my relationship with Mike and his family.”

The Owls have had winning records all four seasons since May’s arrival in 2018, with their best being this season’s 35–3 record. No. 9 FAU, which is just the third nine-seed to ever reach the Final Four, will face No. 5 San Diego State on Saturday, April 1.