Mavericks Turns to NCAA Champion Dusty May as Dallas Begins New Era

The Dallas Mavericks have found their next head coach after hiring former Michigan head coach Dusty May.

May is coming off leading the Wolverines to an NCAA title after compiling a 64-13 record over two seasons.
Before that, he led Florida Atlantic to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the 2023 Final Four.

“We set out to find a leader who embodies the values we want to define our organization,” Mavericks president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. “Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build. He develops players, creates accountability, and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values.

“When you study his journey, you see someone who has earned every opportunity through preparation, discipline, humility, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. We believe those qualities make him the right leader for the Dallas Mavericks.”

May becomes the first college head coach to leap to the NBA since former Michigan coach John Beilein accepted the Cleveland Cavaliers gig back in 2019. He will now be tasked with guiding the Mavericks’ roster that’s led by reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg.

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Dallas is undergoing a full rebuild following the surprising trade of Luka Doncic before the 2024 February trade deadline. Since then, the Mavericks traded Anthony Davis before last season’s trade deadline, then fired head coach Jason Kidd in May.

Kidd had a 205-205 record in five seasons with Dallas, headlined by a 2024 NBA Finals appearance and 2022 Western Conference berth. However, the Mavericks failed to reach the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.