ON THE SIDELINES

Dusty May no longer candidate at Tech, will join staff at Florida

Sean Isabella
sisabella@thenewsstar.com
Dusty May is headed to Florida to join Mike White's staff.

Louisiana Tech associate head basketball coach Dusty May is no longer a candidate for the Bulldogs' coaching vacancy and will join Mike White's staff at Florida.

BleedTechBlue.com first reported the news Thursday night. Florida confirmed late Thursday that May is headed to Gainesville.

May will join assistant coaches Darris Nichols and Jordan Mincy and director of basketball operations Kyle Church a week after White accepted the job at Florida.

May made his decision earlier this week and informed Tech players Wednesday. Gatorzone.com reported Thursday that May has been at Florida for a few days for workouts.

"I am extremely excited and very appreciative to join coach White's staff at the University of Florida. My family and I have made many life-long friends and have great memories of the Ruston community," May said Friday in a text to The News-Star. "We have thoroughly enjoyed our six years. I appreciate the opportunities provided by Louisiana Tech University. I would like to thank the administration, alumni, fans and students and most of all the players. My family and I look forward to an exciting future at the University of Florida."

White announced Monday he was holding a spot for his top assistant should things not work out at Tech.

May spent six seasons at Tech — four under White and two under former coach Kerry Rupp. He previously served as an assistant at Indiana, UAB, Eastern Michigan and Murray State.

The news comes after current and former Tech players campaigned for May to become the next coach last weekend.

Former Tech point guard Speedy Smith even went as far to say the administration would be making a mistake if May wasn't promoted.

"I don't want to harp on my University, but I think we'll make a mistake if we go a different direction than coach May," Smith said last Friday.

"No assistant wants to be an assistant forever. Some day, he wants his own show just like everyone wants their own show. Coach May just has the ability to raise the program to where it's at. I believe in him so much."

May was one of two holdovers White kept on staff from the previous regime. He served as an assistant for three years until he was promoted to associate head coach when Isaac Brown left for Wichita State.

"Dusty May is left behind interviewing for that Louisiana Tech head job," White said Monday. "Very, very well deserving. A terrific, terrific coach and a great person. We wish him the best. If he doesn't get the job, we have a place for him here. In the meantime, we're surveying the landscape."

The immediate questions now turn to Tech's current roster and incoming recruit.

May's departure means Tech won't be landing Florida A&M transfer Jermaine Ruttley, who committed to the Bulldogs last month. Ruttley confirmed his decision to The News-Star on Friday morning.

It also puts the status of signees Justin Leon and Derric Jean in question. On Friday, Leon announced on Twitter he was reopening his recruitment.

The door is now open for current players to transfer. Tech's roster consists of athletes recruited by White and May during the past several years to fit a specific system. If Tech hires a coach with new philosophies, certain players could be on the move.

Tech's search will march on Friday without May. Details have been few and far between about potential candidates and it seems unlikely a new coach will be in place by the weekend. Instead, an official announcement could come by early next week.