5 things to know about former IU basketball student manager and FAU coach Dusty May

Dusty May is a long way from Greene County, Indiana.

The Hoosier native has led Florida Atlantic University into uncharted territory. May took over as head coach of the FAU men’s basketball program in 2018 after a lengthy career as a college assistant.

On Saturday, the No. 9 seeded Owls defeated No. 3 seed Kansas State 79-76 to advance to the Final Four. FAU has been an underdog the entire tournament.

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Prior to May, the program reached the NCAA Tournament just once in 2002. Now they are just one of eight teams left.

Before he had a national spotlight on him, May, 46, developed a love for basketball in Indiana.

Here are five things to know:

Dusty May graduated high school from Eastern Greene

May was a four-year standout at Eastern Greene, 20 miles southwest of Bloomington, for current Lafayette Jeff coach Mark Barnhizer.

Dusty May is a former Bob Knight student manager at Indiana University

After high school, May spent a year at Oakland City, 40 miles north of Evansville, then transferred to IU, where the doctor whose grass he once cut put in a word with Coach Knight.

May served as a student manager at IU from 1996 until 2000.

Doyel:Former Bobby Knight student-manager Dusty May is coaching’s next big star

Dusty May went to USC and back to IU before becoming an assistant coach

Once he graduated from Indiana, May went to the University of Southern California to work as an administrative assistant/video coordinator until 2002.

May returned to IU for three seasons in an administrative role.

© Chris Jones, Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports Mar 11, 2023; Frisco, TX, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls head coach Dusty May cuts down the nets after defeating the UAB Blazers at Ford Center at The Star. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports Dusty May’s first assistant coaching job was at Eastern Michigan

After nine years behind the bench, May was hired as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan (2005-2006).

From there, May had assistant coaching stints at Murray State (2006-2007), UAB (2007-2009), Louisiana Tech (2009-2015) and Florida (2015-2018).

Dusty May’s head coaching record

May is 100-59 as head coach at Florida Atlantic.

2018-2019: 17-16 overall, 8-10 Conference USA

2019-2020: 17-15, 8-10

2020-2021: 13-10, 7-5

2021-2022: 19-15, 11-7

2022-2023: 34-3, 18-2

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former IU basketball student manager Dusty May coaches FAU to Final Four. Get to know him.