Just months after leading Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball to a national championship, Dusty May is reportedly making the jump to the NBA.
According to reports from Adam Schefter , Shams Charania and Pete Thamel of ESPN, May is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, ending a highly successful two-year run in Ann Arbor. The opportunity to coach reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg reportedly played a major role in May’s decision.
May transformed Michigan into a powerhouse almost immediately after arriving from Florida Atlantic Owls men’s basketball. The Wolverines finished the 2025-26 season with a remarkable 37-3 record and captured the program’s first national championship since 1989. His rapid turnaround earned him national coach of the year honors and made him one of the hottest coaching names in basketball.
The move is one of the most surprising coaching departures in recent college basketball history. Michigan had assembled one of the nation’s top recruiting classes and was expected to enter next season as a championship favorite. The sudden exit could trigger roster uncertainty and transfer portal movement as the Wolverines search for a replacement. Reports indicate assistant coach Mike Boynton is expected to serve as interim head coach.
For Dallas, the hire signals a new direction following the departure of Jason Kidd. Despite having no prior NBA coaching experience, May has built a reputation as an elite program builder, tactician, and player developer. The Mavericks are betting those skills will translate to the professional level as they build around Flagg and their young core.
The timing is especially noteworthy with the NBA Draft just days away, giving May little time to settle into his new role before helping shape the next era of Mavericks basketball.
