Dusty May Signs with Dallas Mavericks as Head Coach After NCAA Championship Win
Michigan head coach Dusty May smiles at the podium during a celebration honoring the Wolverines’ NCAA men’s basketball national championship at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
The Dallas Mavericks have found their man. After more than a month without a head coach following Jason Kidd’s dismissal, Dallas has turned to one of NCAA basketball’s hottest names: Dusty May. The Michigan head coach, fresh off the most decorated season in Wolverines program history, has agreed to terms to take over the Mavericks bench. It is his first NBA head coaching position.
A historic college run that caught the NBA’s attention
May’s résumé made him impossible to ignore. In just two seasons at Michigan, he compiled a remarkable 63-13 overall record (.829 winning percentage), including a 33-7 mark in conference play. The 2025-2026 campaign was the pinnacle — 37 wins, the most in Michigan program history, with 23 victories by double figures and nine games surpassing 100 points. It all culminated in a national championship, earning May both the USBWA Henry Iba National Coach of the Year Award and Big Ten Coach of the Year recognition from the media.
Before arriving in Ann Arbor, May had already proven himself as a program builder. Over six seasons at Florida Atlantic (2018-2024), he went 126-69, produced six consecutive winning seasons, and guided the Owls to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. His overall head coaching record now stands at 190-82 (.699) — numbers that speak to a consistent ability to win at every stop.
A costly but calculated departure from Michigan
Leaving Michigan was not without a price. May had signed a contract extension with the Wolverines in July 2025, which included a $5 million buyout clause for any departure to the NBA. Dallas was willing to absorb that cost, a clear signal of how highly the franchise values his profile.
The Mavericks have been navigating an uncomfortable coaching vacancy for over a month since parting ways with Jason Kidd late in the process. The decision to pivot toward May reflects a broader trend across the league: NBA franchises increasingly looking to the college ranks for coaches who have demonstrated the ability to build culture, develop players, and win quickly.
May’s track record of rapid program turnarounds — at both FAU and Michigan — is precisely what makes him an intriguing fit at the professional level. Whether his college blueprint translates to the NBA remains the central question, but in Dallas, he will have the opportunity to answer it on the biggest stage.
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