Dusty May Leaves Michigan to Become Dallas Mavericks Coach/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Dallas Mavericks are finalizing a deal to hire Michigan coach Dusty May as their next head coach. May led Michigan to the 2026 NCAA championship and compiled a dominant 124-26 record over his last four college seasons. The move gives May the opportunity to coach NBA stars and reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.
Dusty May Dallas Mavericks Quick Looks
- Dallas is finalizing a deal with Michigan coach Dusty May.
- May led the Wolverines to the 2026 NCAA national championship.
- He replaces Jason Kidd after the Mavericks’ front-office overhaul.
- May previously guided Florida Atlantic to its first Final Four appearance.
- Michigan finished 34-3 and won its first national title since 1989.
- The coach posted a 124-26 record over his last four college seasons.
- He will inherit a roster led by Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.
- The hiring marks May’s first NBA coaching opportunity.
Deep Look
Dallas Mavericks Turn to Dusty May for New Era
The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly set to make one of the most significant coaching hires of the NBA offseason by bringing national championship-winning coach Dusty May from Michigan to lead the franchise.
According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the Mavericks and May are finalizing a deal that would move the highly regarded college coach to the professional ranks. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been completed.
The move comes just weeks after Dallas dismissed Jason Kidd following the arrival of new president of basketball operations and alternate governor Masai Ujiri.
Now the franchise appears ready to hand the reins to one of college basketball’s fastest-rising coaching stars.
Fresh Off a National Championship
May arrives in Dallas after completing a remarkable season at Michigan.
The Wolverines captured their first NCAA championship since 1989 by defeating Connecticut 69-63 in April, capping a dominant 34-3 campaign.
Michigan also made history during the NCAA Tournament by becoming the first team ever to score at least 90 points in five consecutive tournament games.
The championship elevated May’s profile nationally and solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s brightest coaching minds.
His success at Michigan came quickly.
After taking over a struggling Wolverines program that had finished just 8-24 before his arrival, May engineered a rapid turnaround. In his first season, Michigan posted a 27-10 record, won the Big Ten Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16.
One year later, the Wolverines stood atop college basketball.
Building a Reputation at Florida Atlantic
Before his championship run at Michigan, May became one of the most respected coaches in the country during his tenure at Florida Atlantic.
He accepted the head coaching position in 2018 and spent several years gradually building the program.
The breakthrough arrived during the 2022-23 season.
Florida Atlantic shocked the college basketball world by finishing 35-4 and advancing to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
The magical run nearly reached the national championship game before a dramatic 72-71 loss to San Diego State in the national semifinals on Lamont Butler’s buzzer-beating shot.
The Owls followed that memorable season with another NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024 before May accepted the opportunity to coach Michigan.
Players Praise May’s NBA-Style Approach
One of May’s former Michigan stars believes the coach is uniquely prepared for the transition to the NBA.
Yaxel Lendeborg, who played under May and is projected to be selected in the lottery of the NBA Draft, expressed strong admiration for his former coach.
“I was a fan of Dusty’s when he was at FAU,” said Yaxel Lendeborg, who played for May at Michigan and is expected to be a lottery pick in the first round of the NBA draft on Tuesday night. “And now, after playing for him, I’m a bigger fan. I have so much respect for Dusty May, I can’t even tell you.”
Lendeborg also explained why May’s coaching philosophy could translate effectively to the professional level.
“A lot of schemes, a lot of switching and stuff. And his offense was very much a pro-style offense,” Lendeborg said. “We played fast-paced, physical, all of that. … I’ve gained so much knowledge from him as far as those actions and just those little communication keys.”
May’s emphasis on spacing, versatility, switching defenses and player development has drawn praise throughout the college basketball community and helped establish him as a leading NBA candidate.
Opportunity to Coach Cooper Flagg
One of the most intriguing aspects of the job will be May’s opportunity to work with young superstar Cooper Flagg.
The Mavericks selected Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he immediately rewarded the franchise by winning NBA Rookie of the Year honors.
Dallas views Flagg as the cornerstone of its future.
May’s track record of player development, particularly with younger talent, could make him an ideal mentor for the emerging star as he continues his growth into one of the league’s premier players.
Veteran guard Kyrie Irving also remains on the roster, although questions persist about his future after missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in March 2025.
Balancing the development of young talent with the expectations of veteran players will be among May’s first major challenges in Dallas.
A Rapid Rise Through Coaching Ranks
May’s path to the NBA has been built through years of steady progression.
His coaching career began as an assistant at Murray State during the 2005-06 season. He later worked on coaching staffs at UAB, Louisiana Tech and Florida before earning his first head coaching opportunity.
Prior to entering coaching, May gained valuable experience as a student manager under legendary Indiana coach Bob Knight.
The Indiana native worked closely with Knight from 1996 through 2000, learning the fundamentals of scouting, player development and program management.
Following graduation, May served in administrative and video coordinator roles at Southern California and later returned to Indiana in similar positions.
Those early experiences laid the foundation for one of the most impressive coaching ascents in modern college basketball.
Elite Winning Percentage
The numbers behind May’s success are difficult to ignore.
Across his last four seasons as a college head coach, he compiled a remarkable 124-26 record.
His .827 winning percentage ranked third among all major college basketball coaches during that span.
Only Houston’s Kelvin Sampson (.861) and Duke’s Jon Scheyer (.832) posted better marks.
Those achievements made him one of the most sought-after coaching candidates in basketball.
Now, after conquering the college game, May faces a new challenge.
The Mavericks believe he can help return the franchise to championship contention while developing one of the NBA’s brightest young rosters.
More on Sports
Comments are closed.