Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May thought he made the biggest mistake of his career when he left Florida for FAU in 2018.
When May signed the contract for the Owls’ head coaching position — he regretted it by the time he got to his hotel.
“I walk in the room and I started crying and said, ‘I just committed career suicide. I’m not good enough. I can’t do this,'” May told to CBS Sports ahead of FAU set to make its first appearance in the Final Four
May had a close relationship with FAU athletic director Brian White, brother of May’s former boss at Louisiana Tech and Florida, Mike White.
Due to their history, May was the clear No. 1 target for White.
The deal was done within hours of May’s arrival in Boca Raton, Florida — even before seeing the basketball facilities.
“When I feel something in my stomach I go with it,” May said. “At that point, I still haven’t been to our gym, our weight room, our locker room.”
Once he was able to see where his team would play and train, however, May’s world came crashing down.
“When I get to the gym, there’s a pickup game going on,” he continued. “The facilities weren’t up to par. And I had already accepted the job. I knew we just had a lot of work even to fill a competitive roster.
“I would’ve left and went back to Gainesville after signing the contract if it wasn’t for my relationship with Mike and his family.”
So when May finally got to his hotel, he couldn’t help but break down.
“I’m not a big cryer, but I burst into tears like a baby,” he said.
Now, five years later, he is overcome with emotion again — but for a much different reason.
The Owls will play San Diego State in the Final Four on Saturday, and thanks to this miraculous run, the program’s basketball facilities will never look the same as they did when May took over.