The Dallas Mavericks officially announced the hire of Dusty May as their next head coach on Tuesday, a day after it was first reported that the Michigan coach was taking the job.
May, 49, guided the Wolverines to a 37-3 record and an NCAA Tournament title in his second season in Ann Arbor in 2025-26.
“I am honored to join the Dallas Mavericks organization,” May said in the press release announcing his hire. “This is one of the most respected franchises in professional sports, with passionate fans, a talented roster, and a clear commitment to building a championship organization. I am grateful to Patrick Dumont, Masai Ujiri, and the Mavericks organization for this opportunity, and I look forward to helping bring another championship to the city of Dallas.”
May replaces Jason Kidd, who mutually parted ways with the Mavericks on May 19 after five seasons on the bench. Dallas finished 26-56 last season, its worst record since the 2017-18 season.
He has no NBA coaching experience, but has been consistently successful at the collegiate level. He posted a 64-13 during his two seasons leading the Wolverines after Michigan was 8-24 the year before he arrived.
He previously took Florida Atlantic on a shocking run to the Final Four in 2023 — the Owls lost to San Diego State on a buzzer-beating shot — and compiled a 126-69 record there in six seasons (2018-24) before replacing Juwan Howard at Michigan.
“We set out to find a leader who embodies the values we want to define our organization,” Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in the press release. “Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build. He develops players, creates accountability, and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values.
“When you study his journey, you see someone who has earned every opportunity through preparation, discipline, humility, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. We believe those qualities make him the right leader for the Dallas Mavericks.”
“Dusty represents the type of leader we want guiding this franchise,” Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont added. “He has demonstrated throughout his career that success is built through preparation, character, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His leadership style, ability to develop people, and championship mindset align with the vision we have for the Dallas Mavericks. We are thrilled to welcome Dusty, his wife Anna, and their sons Jack, Charlie, and Eli to the Mavericks family.”
May will be formally introduced in a press conference at a later date, the team said. His immediate focus becomes the NBA Draft, which starts Tuesday night. The Mavericks have the Nos. 9 and 30 picks in the first round.
–Field Level Media
