Dusty May Named Head Coach of Dallas Mavericks

Dusty May is stepping in as the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, leaving behind a successful collegiate career. His appointment was confirmed by a league source to The Athletic.

May recently led Florida Atlantic to a Final Four appearance in 2023 and clinched a national championship with Michigan in 2026. He will now lead a Mavericks team centered around Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year.

At 49, May’s journey in basketball started as a student manager at Indiana, working under the guidance of coach Bob Knight. His career progressed through various college positions until securing his first head coach role at Florida Atlantic in 2018, where he achieved an impressive record, 60-13, over his final two seasons. May’s move to Michigan in 2024 escalated his career further.

Under his leadership, the Michigan Wolverines saw substantial improvements. In 2024-25, they achieved a 27-10 record — a 19-win increase from the previous season. The following season, they posted an extraordinary 37-3 record, culminating in a national championship victory against Connecticut. Notably, Wolverines stars Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara are predicted to be first-round NBA picks.

Earlier this year, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri decided to part ways with coach Jason Kidd, despite his contract having four years and over $40 million remaining. Ujiri committed to exploring extensively to find Kidd’s replacement.

During the search, several candidates caught the team’s attention. San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney was considered, but he opted for a position with the Orlando Magic. Other names included Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Duke’s Jon Scheyer, and Florida’s Todd Golden.

In making his final choice, Ujiri settled on May, who recently led one of the most formidable college teams in recent history.