The Dallas Mavericks have made one of the most surprising coaching hires of the offseason, turning to newly crowned NCAA champion Dusty May as the franchise’s next head coach.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, May has agreed to become the new head coach in Dallas, completing a rapid rise from the college ranks to one of the league’s most closely watched rebuilding projects. The move represents a significant gamble by new Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, who is making his first major basketball decision since taking control of the organization.
May arrives after leading Michigan to the 2026 national championship, capping a remarkable coaching ascent that began with his turnaround of Florida Atlantic. After guiding FAU to a historic Final Four appearance in 2023, May took over at Michigan in 2024 and quickly restored the Wolverines to national prominence. Two seasons later, he delivered a national title and established himself as one of the most sought-after coaches in basketball.
The hiring comes after weeks of speculation surrounding Dallas’ coaching search. Reports from Marc Stein indicated that Toronto Raptors assistant Jama Mahlalela, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Houston Rockets assistant Royal Ivey were among the leading candidates to replace Jason Kidd. Veteran coach Terry Stotts was also linked to the opening.
Dallas had additionally explored college coaching candidates, including Duke’s Jon Scheyer and May. At the time, league sources described those conversations as exploratory, with both coaches viewed as deeply committed to their college programs. Ultimately, the Mavericks succeeded in convincing May to make the jump.
The decision underscores Ujiri’s willingness to look beyond traditional NBA coaching pathways. While many expected Dallas to hire an experienced NBA assistant, the organization instead chose a coach whose reputation has been built on player development, program building and offensive system design.
May inherits a franchise coming off a disappointing 26-56 season that finished 12th in the Western Conference and missed the playoffs. Despite the team’s struggles, Dallas believes it has a franchise cornerstone in Cooper Flagg.
Flagg delivered one of the league’s best rookie campaigns in 2025-26, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists across 70 games while earning Rookie of the Year honors. He emerged as the clear centerpiece of the Mavericks’ long-term plans and will be the focal point of May’s first NBA roster.
The timing of the hire is notable with the 2026 NBA Draft set for June 23-24. Dallas owns the No. 9 overall pick, giving May and the front office an immediate opportunity to shape the roster around Flagg.
May’s track record suggests player development will be a major priority. At both Florida Atlantic and Michigan, he built winning programs through continuity, skill development and adaptable offensive schemes. The Mavericks are betting those strengths can translate to the professional level.
The challenge will be significant. Dallas finished tied with New Orleans for the Western Conference’s fourth-worst record and won only 14 conference games all season. However, with Flagg entering his second year, a top-10 draft selection incoming and Ujiri overseeing basketball operations, the franchise views this as the beginning of a new era.
