Dusty May has already taken Florida Atlantic to new heights with an appearance in the Final Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
However, the fifth-year head coach admitted Tuesday that he thought he made a bad move when he initially took the Owls’ job. He told CBS Sports that he signed a contract to become the head coach without looking at anything at the Boca Raton school. He made an instinctive decision.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May holds up the championship trophy after Florida Atlantic defeated Kansas State 79-86 in an Elite 8 college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament East Region final, on Saturday March 25, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
«I walked into the room and started crying and said, ‘I just committed career suicide. I’m not good enough. I can’t do this,'» May said he told his wife after signing the contract. I’m not a big crybaby, but I started crying like a baby.»
May said the facility was out of date when she was finally able to tour it. She came from Florida as an assistant to Mike White. Brian White, Mike’s brother, is the athletic director for Florida Atlantic.
ON A DAY LIKE TODAY IN HISTORY, MARCH 29, 1982, MICHAEL JORDAN TAKES THE WINNING SHOT IN THE NCAA FINALE, THE LEGEND OF THE PHOTO
Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May cuts the net after Florida Atlantic defeated Kansas State in an Elite 8 college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament East Region final, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
«At that point, I still haven’t gone to our gym, our weight room, our locker room,» May added. «The facilities weren’t up to scratch. And I had already taken the job … I would have left and returned to Gainesville after signing the contract if it wasn’t for my relationship with Mike (White) and his family.»
May credited his wife with convincing him to stay the course. He went 17-15 in his first and second seasons with Florida Atlantic. He won 13 games in the pandemic-shortened season and went 19-15 in his fourth year.
Prior to his season, Florida Atlantic had only made it to the tournament once, under Sidney Green in 2002. The team had only won 20+ games once, under Mike Jarvis in 2011. May helped Florida Atlantic reach new heights.
Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May leads his team in the first half of an Elite 8 college basketball game against Kansas State in the Eastern Region final of the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, March 25, 2023 , In New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Florida Atlantic is 35-3 and is in the Final Four as the No. 9 seed. A win against San Diego State on Saturday night will put them in the national championship.