Dusty May has been appointed as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, moving up from the college basketball scene, according to a source from The Athletic.
May recently celebrated a national championship victory with Michigan in April. He also guided Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023. At 49, May will now lead a Mavericks team centered around Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year.
Dusty May began his basketball journey as a student manager at Indiana under the renowned coach Bob Knight. Over time, he advanced through the college coaching ranks. He took on his first head coaching role at Florida Atlantic in 2018. Under his leadership, the Owls achieved a record of 60-13 in his last two seasons there before he moved to Michigan in 2024.
During his tenure at Michigan, May experienced great success. In the 2024-25 season, Michigan improved by 19 wins, finishing at 27-10. Last season, they ended with a 37-3 record, capturing the national championship by defeating Connecticut. This impressive roster included players like Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara, all of whom are anticipated first-round picks in the upcoming NBA Draft.
In May, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri decided to part ways with coach Jason Kidd, despite Kidd having four years and over $40 million left on his contract. Ujiri assured that he would explore various options for Kidd’s replacement.
The Mavericks showed interest in Sean Sweeney, associate head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, but he opted for the head coaching position with the Orlando Magic. They also interviewed Micah Nori, assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ujiri examined several college coaches during this process, including Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Florida’s Todd Golden.
Ultimately, Ujiri selected Dusty May, who coached one of the most formidable college teams last season.
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