Vlad Goldin thrilled to reunite with Dusty May: 'He gave me family'
When Dusty May took the Michigan head coaching job, speculation immediately arose as fans wondered if — or rather, how many — Florida Atlantic players would follow May to Ann Arbor. Johnell Davis, Alijah Martin, Nicholas Boyd and Vlad Goldin all received a look from May, but it was ultimately just Goldin who officially made the trek north from Boca Raton, Florida, to Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Goldin joined Michigan basketball radio voice Brian Boesch on Tuesday's episode of the 'Defend the Block' podcast to discuss the transition to Michigan, where he will play out his final season of college eligibility.
"I mean, first of all, it's a great program," Goldin said. "Like, it always was attractive because it's in Michigan. It has, like, probably one of the greatest athletics history through all of the NCAA teams."
"And the second reason [Goldin chose Michigan] is probably you can know is like coach man, coaching staff, I prefer relationship over anything else, so it was pretty big deal for me."
Goldin, a 7-foot-1 center who averaged 15.7 points per game in just 25 minutes per contest last season, discussed just how much May has meant to him throughout his collegiate career as an international student.
"I mean, it's hard to say how impactful he was entire my career, but he gave me family. I haven't seen my family for five years, but he's probably one of the people who gave me family, who let me feel like I'm home, and it's unbelievable. It costs a lot to me."
May has coached Goldin the last three seasons, and the duo will be entering their fourth season together in 2024-25. Together, the two experienced a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Final Four in 2022.
Heading into his fifth year of college basketball, Goldin, now playing for his third program, says seeing May in the building every day has helped him acclimate to the new surroundings.
"It's actually interesting because it's a new program, new everything, new people. But then you see this guy, and you're like, 'Oh, it's actually not.' It's like you actually know somebody. So, it helps because I know how they talk, I know how they, what type of conversation we're going to have. So, it's been amazing just because you see familiar faces."
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