Anshari Taslim
The Dallas Mavericks have appointed Dusty May as their new head coach, confirming his hiring less than three months after he guided the Michigan Wolverines to the 2026 NCAA national championship. May, 49, departs Ann Arbor for Dallas, where he will be tasked with orchestrating a significant rebuild centered around 2026 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. The move, confirmed by CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish, sends reverberations through both collegiate and professional basketball landscapes.
May steps into the role vacated by Jason Kidd, who was dismissed by the Mavericks in May after five seasons. Kidd’s tenure concluded with a 26-56 record in the 2025-26 season, marking the franchise’s first full campaign following the high-profile trade of star guard Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks’ decision to part ways with Kidd signaled a clear intent to embark on a new strategic direction, a path now firmly placed in May’s hands.
The Mavericks’ recent history has been characterized by dramatic shifts and strategic pivots. Just two years prior, the franchise had reached the NBA Finals, seemingly establishing a foundation for sustained championship contention with Dončić leading the charge. However, the trajectory dramatically altered on February 1, 2025, when then-general manager Nico Harrison executed a blockbuster trade, sending Dončić to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and a limited array of additional assets. The aftermath saw a steep decline in team performance, with the Mavericks registering a 40-77 record since the trade. This period of underperformance led to Harrison’s own dismissal in November 2025, followed by Kidd’s firing in May 2026. Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the Dončić trade, has since moved on to the Washington Wizards, further underscoring the Mavericks’ complete reorientation.
Amidst the turbulence, the franchise experienced a stroke of fortune in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, securing the No. 1 overall pick despite having less than a 2% chance. This pivotal outcome allowed the Mavericks to select Cooper Flagg, a generational talent who immediately made an impact in his rookie season, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.1 stocks (steals + blocks) per game. Flagg’s exceptional debut positions him as a strong candidate for All-Star honors in his second year, and his presence is undoubtedly a primary allure for an incoming NBA head coach like May, offering a clear cornerstone for future success. This organizational shift was further solidified with the appointment of Masai Ujiri as team president approximately two months ago, injecting experienced leadership into a franchise committed to a fresh start.
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Dusty May’s ascent to an NBA head coaching position has been remarkably swift and successful. His coaching career gained national prominence during his tenure at Florida Atlantic University, where he transformed a previously unheralded program. May guided the Owls to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024, highlighted by a stunning run to the Final Four in 2023. His success at FAU caught the attention of major programs, leading to his move to Michigan to succeed Juwan Howard for the 2024-25 season. May inherited a Wolverines program that had finished 8-24 in the season prior to his arrival, but he orchestrated an immediate and historic turnaround. He implemented a distinctive "multi-big system," emphasizing towering frontcourts and a unique offensive and defensive philosophy that quickly yielded results. This approach culminated in the 2026 national championship, securing May’s place in college basketball history. His 64 wins in his first two seasons at Michigan are tied for the most by any head coach in their initial two years at a school in the last 95 years, underscoring the immediate and profound impact he had on the Wolverines.
May’s decision to depart Michigan, particularly after achieving a national championship, carries significant implications for college basketball. However, a revealing interview with CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander earlier this spring offered insight into May’s perspective on the contemporary college athletics landscape. In the interview, May articulated what he described as a "post-title blues," expressing a profound sense of disillusionment with the immediate and relentless demands of the transfer portal era. He reflected: "And I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’d heard where you climb the ladder and you say, ‘Is this really it?’ And it was worse. It was less than ‘it.’ The journey was so much better than the destination. The finality of it all is almost disappointing because you have one of the most special groups of humans you’ll ever be around, and at that moment, it all ends." May further detailed the immediate shift from celebration to transactional tasks: "Literally, it’s such a blur because there’s no time to celebrate. You meet with your seniors, you do exit meetings, you’re meeting with your players and trying to figure out what your vision with them will be for the following year. Plugging holes in your roster, trying to make sure you’re generating NIL opportunities and attracting businesses and things of that nature." Norlander characterized May’s words as both honest and alarming, suggesting a potential undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the realities of modern college coaching that may have influenced his decision to seek a new challenge in the NBA.
May’s transition from a national championship-winning college coach to an NBA head coach is a rare occurrence, placing him in an exclusive group. The most notable precedent is Larry Brown, who moved from Kansas to the San Antonio Spurs in 1988 immediately after winning the NCAA title. Brown remains the only head coach to have won both an NCAA national title (with Kansas in 1988) and an NBA title (with the Detroit Pistons in 2004). Other college head coaches who have made the direct jump to an NBA head coaching role in the past 15 years include John Beilein (Michigan to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019), Fred Hoiberg (Iowa State to Chicago Bulls in 2015), Billy Donovan (Florida to Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015), and Brad Stevens (Butler to Boston Celtics in 2013). While Beilein and Hoiberg are no longer NBA head coaches, and Stevens transitioned to a front office role as President of Basketball Operations for the Celtics, Billy Donovan currently remains the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, a correction to the prevailing narrative that none of these coaches are still in NBA head coaching positions. This historical context underscores the inherent challenges and unique demands of transitioning from the college game to the professional ranks.
For the Mavericks, May’s arrival ushers in an immediate focus on the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, which commences on Tuesday. Dallas holds two first-round picks, including the No. 9 overall selection. Given May’s recent success at Michigan, speculation has already begun regarding potential targets. Former Michigan players such as Aday Mara, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Morez Johnson, all expected to be selected in the back half of the lottery, could be viable options for the Mavericks at No. 9. A CBS Sports mock draft has already projected a potential reunion between May and the 7-foot-3 Michigan center Aday Mara. Beyond individual player selections, the Mavericks are also reportedly exploring trade scenarios. Marc Stein has reported that Dallas is interested in a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder that would involve sending out the No. 9 pick in exchange for OKC’s No. 12 and No. 17 picks, a strategic move that would provide the rebuilding franchise with additional draft capital.
The current Mavericks roster presents several immediate questions for May and team president Masai Ujiri. P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford are the only two players currently under contract beyond next season, offering a clean slate for the new coaching regime. However, the future of Kyrie Irving, who is set to earn $39.4 million this season, looms large. Irving’s age and contract status may not align with the long-term timeline of a team building around a young star like Cooper Flagg, necessitating a critical evaluation of his role within the new framework.
Dusty May’s late-June departure sends significant ramifications through the Michigan basketball program, less than three months after its national championship triumph. While the Wolverines are set to lose several key contributors from their title-winning squad, the program had successfully reloaded, welcoming the nation’s No. 4 recruiting class and the No. 12 transfer class. The sudden coaching vacancy throws this meticulously assembled roster into immediate uncertainty. Under NCAA rules, players currently signed and enrolled at Michigan will have a 15-day window to enter the transfer portal once a new head coach is hired, though any contractual buyouts written into their agreements would need to be repaid.
The search for May’s successor at Michigan will be a critical and expedited process. Assistant coach Mike Boynton, who served as Oklahoma State’s head coach from 2017 to 2024, is considered a strong candidate for an internal promotion, offering continuity during a period of upheaval. Externally, Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports HQ has flagged Billy Donovan as a potential candidate, given his extensive experience in both college (Florida) and professional basketball (Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls). The ultimate impact on Michigan’s highly touted incoming talent remains uncertain. While the Wolverines had made efforts to retain key players, including point guard Elliot Cadeau and guard Trey McKenney, their futures are now subject to the hiring of a new coaching staff and the individual decisions of each player within the transfer portal window. The program faces the immediate challenge of maintaining stability and momentum in the wake of an unexpected coaching change.
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