Michigan Wolverines football and basketball are both in transition right now, and Kyle Whittingham is handling his side of the building just fine. He was asked about the other side this week.

Dusty May announced on June 22 that he is leaving Michigan basketball to become the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Whittingham was caught by Woodward Sports Network and was asked directly what he thought about May's departure.

"I love Dusty," Whittingham told Woodward Sports Network on June 22. "In the short time I've been with him, just a stud, phenomenal basketball coach, great opportunity for him. Wish him all the best, and going forward I'm sure the program will be in good hands, just don't know who yet."

Nobody at Michigan knows who is next yet. Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel announced May's departure the same day and named assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. as interim head coach while the search begins, per Click On Detroit.

Whittingham's words about May were genuine. The two have only overlapped for a short stretch at Michigan, but Whittingham clearly has real respect for what May built in Ann Arbor.

May went 64-13 in two seasons, won a national championship in April, a Big Ten regular-season title, and a Big Ten Tournament championship. He turned around a program that went 8-24 the year before he arrived.

May becomes the first national championship-winning college basketball coach to leave for another job immediately following a title since Larry Brown left Kansas for the NBA in 1988.

While Whittingham shared his take, May broke his silence, too.

May’s own words made it clear this was not an easy call

May released a full statement explaining why he made the move and what Michigan meant to him.

"When my family and I came to Ann Arbor two years ago, we hoped we could help bring Michigan Basketball back to where it belongs," May said, per Click On Detroit. "I never could have imagined how special these last two seasons would be."

May came in with a goal, hit it faster than anyone expected, and then a once-in-a-career opportunity showed up.

"This wasn't an easy decision," he said in the same statement. "An opportunity came along that was right for my family and something I felt I needed to pursue."

He also made sure to close with the kind of message that will stick with Michigan fans.

"Thank you for trusting us, believing in us, and making these last two years so much fun," May said in the same statement. "It was an honor to coach at Michigan and wear the Block M. Go Blue."

Michigan now faces a massive coaching search on the basketball side. Boynton is in charge for now. What happens next is the question in Ann Arbor right now.

Do you think Michigan can find the right coach to keep the basketball program at this level? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Farheen Fathima

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar