HOUSTON — Before the NCAA Tournament, Dusty May said a new contract with Florida Atlantic probably would have been completed and signed if he hadn’t been “too busy” coaching the team.
Nothing’s changed after the team’s improbable run to the Final Four raised his national profile. The deal is expected to be “north of $1 million” per year, a source said.
“I learned a long time ago you never mess with happy,” May said Friday. “And so I know what makes me happy, and right now at this point in my career I couldn’t be any more pleased and happy with where we are and just continue to — just excited to continue building.
“As far as the timing, nothing’s changed probably in the last six or seven weeks, this was always on the table. But I felt obligated to focus on our season and our team versus all the other stuff, the peripheral stuff that goes on.”
FAU Athletic Director Brian White confirmed May is expected to, “sign a long-term extension after the season is finished.”
May’s success this season put him on the map of larger programs with more resources. He did say, however, that he hoped FAU could improve in that regard. The school had $11 million in donations secured before this tournament run to improve its 2,900-seat arena on campus.
With May’s expected return, the next question is if all his players will be back. FAU boosters are forming a name, image and likeness (NIL) package to help keep this team together. Players at FAU currently make as much as $10,000 on NIL deals, a school source said.
Connecticut star guard missed practice
Connecticut sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins, who was named the outstanding player of the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional, missed Friday’s practice with a non-COVID illness and his status for Saturday’s game was unknown.
“We hope it doesn’t spread,” coach Dan Hurley said.
Omier won’t be next Jimmy Graham
Miami coach Jim Larrañaga was asked about Hurricanes football coach Mario Cristobal poaching 6-7, 248-pound Norchad Omier. The idea was thought of as former Miami basketball player Jimmy Graham went on to be a star NFL tight end.
Larrañaga quickly dismissed that idea, saying Omier is, “going to be in the NBA. In football, you get hurt. I don’t want him even thinking about playing football. I don’t think he ever will because he’s a dynamic basketball player.
“He hasn’t even scratched the surface. His offensive skills, as good as they are, can reach not just one level up but two or three levels up. And we’re going to spend a lot of time with him spring, summer and fall leading into next season, and we’ll see a much improved offensive player.”
‘Mattress Mack’ on FAU bandwagon
FAU picked up a new booster this weekend when Houston native and renowned gambler James “Mattress Mack” McIngvale contributed around $50,000 to the school’s “Paradise Club,” and an emerging NIL group. He also gave a motivational talk to the team.
Mattress Mack, who had no previous ties to the university, is a store owner in Houston who is the recipient of the largest legal payout in American sports history of $75 million. He became enamored with FAU’s run through the tournament. As part of his NIL deal, he paid for FAU players’ families to go to the Houston Astros game on Friday night.
Houston to be full of ex-Canes
Eric Brown and Kevin Presto, who were among the first players when the program was re-started in 1985, will attend Saturday’s game, along with about 30 other former players. More than a dozen former Miami and NFL players are expected to be at the game, including Michael Irvin, Edgerrin James and Andre Johnson ... May was a student manager for Bob Knight’s Indiana team and said, “the impact that he had on me as a teacher is something as a head coach I refer back to daily. The way he cared for people, especially after they went through the program is something that I try to do as well.”
