The Dallas Mavericks are now finalizing a deal to hire Dusty May, who just led the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship, as the team’s next head coach.
BREAKING: University of Michigan coach Dusty May has agreed to become the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, sources tell me, @AdamSchefter, @PeteThamel. Major college-to-pro jump for the 2026 NCAA championship coach and swing for the Mavericks and Masai Ujiri. pic.twitter.com/rwlwhRtNfo
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— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2026
The 49-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Wolverines, guiding them to a 64-13 record in that span as well as the national title in April.
Prior to joining Michigan, May established himself across six seasons coaching Florida Atlantic. There, he helped the Owls advance all the way to the Final Four in 2023.
During the Wolverines’ championship parade two months ago, athletic director Warde Manuel proclaimed that May had agreed to a long-term deal to remain with Michigan, but no deal was ever actually signed.
Monday’s stunning move makes May the first coach to leave for the NBA immediately after winning a national title since Kansas’ Larry Brown in 1988.
Ironically, the last coach to make the jump from college to the NBA was Michigan’s John Beilein joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019.
Now, May will take control of a Mavericks team that is looking to build around reining Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. He’s coming in with a terrific reputation for both on-court strategic coaching and behind-the-scenes roster construction.
For Michigan, the move puts the team in a period of major uncertainty. They were projected to be among the top teams in college basketball next season, but the coaching change will give rostered players a 15-day window to transfer.
Key pieces like Elliot Cadeau, Trey McKenney and J.P. Estrella could easily go elsewhere if they aren’t satisfied with whoever Michigan hires as head coach.
While the Wolverines are the national champions, May joins a Mavericks squad that saw nowhere near championship-level success last season.
Following a 26-56 finish, Dallas hired Masai Ujiri as new team president and later parted ways with head coach Jason Kidd.
The Mavericks saw some playoff success under Kidd, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024. But the last two seasons saw the team miss the playoffs and trade away franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis and a shockingly light trade package.
They’ll now have a new coach at the helm as they look to formulate a championship roster around their young superstar.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
