[4] After two seasons at UAB, he joined the staff at Louisiana Tech University as an assistant under Kerry Rupp and Mike White from 2009 to 2015.

On March 22, 2018, May was hired at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) as the head coach of the Owls, replacing Michael Curry.

[6][7][8] As the head coach at Florida Atlantic, May compiled a 126–69 record and a Final Four appearance in 2023, the first in school history.

[9] On March 23, 2024, May was named the head basketball coach at the University of Michigan, agreeing to a five-year contract with an average value of $3.75 million annually.

[12] On April 29, he added his eighth offseason commitment, his former center at FAU, Vladislav Goldin.

[14] The next two games, Michigan opened the Big Ten Conference season winning on the road against No.

7 Purdue, moving into first place in the Big Ten standings and improving to 12–0 at home, 11–2 in the conference and 4–2 versus ranked opponents.

His eldest, Jack, played for the Florida Gators from 2020–24, while his middle son, Charlie, transferred from the UCF Knights to join his father's Wolverines.