Mike Boynton Jr. has put the final touches on his inaugural Michigan basketball staff.
The program announced Wednesday, Sept. 2, that Bertram “Buzzy” Caruthers, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Ball State, has been hired as the team’s director of player development.
The role was previously held by former assistant coach Drew Williamson before he left this offseason to join Dusty May’s staff with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
“I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a tremendous university and college basketball program,” Caruthers said in a statement. “The opportunity Coach Boynton has given me is something I don't take lightly. I'm looking forward to building relationships with our players, staff and everyone around the program, and helping Michigan in any way I can.”
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Caruthers has spent the past two decades coaching at all different levels, from high school to NCAA Division I. Prior to his time at Ball State, he was an assistant coach at Missouri State from 2022-24 and served as Nebraska’s director of player development under Fred Hoiberg from 2019-22.
He’s also had coaching stops in Division II at Maryville University and Lincoln University, as well as junior college stints at Butler Community College, Chipola College and Dodge City Community College. The Kansas native and Hampton University alum began his coaching career in 2007 at Barstow High School in Kansas City, Missouri.
Caruthers will oversee Michigan’s player development program while “working with student-athletes in leadership, personal mentorship, academic success and team culture,” per the program’s release.
“Buzzy brings a great deal of experience, but what stands out most is the way he connects with people,” Boynton said in a statement. “He has built a strong reputation as a coach, teacher and mentor, and he will have an important impact on our players and our program every day.”
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Michigan also added Nick Szczechowski, a former Michigan basketball student manager, as the team’s director of basketball operations. Szczechowski fills the vacant role that was created when Boynton promoted KT Harrell, who served as director of basketball operations the past two years, to an assistant coach this offseason.
Szczechowski, a Wyandotte native who graduated this year and spent the last two seasons as the program’s head student manager, will “help oversee day-to-day operations while contributing to player development, scouting and analytics,” per the release.
“Nick has earned this opportunity through his work ethic, attention to detail and commitment to Michigan basketball,” Boynton said. “He knows what this program takes on a daily basis, and he has continued to grow in every role he has had here.”
Boynton’s other staff hirings this offseason include assistant coaches Mike Martin and Dylan Murphy, with holdovers Kyle Church, Akeem Miskdeen and Harrell rounding out the coaching staff.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan basketball rounds out staff with two additions