Dusty May, fresh off a national championship at Michigan, is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, according to reports. May, 49, arrives after leading Michigan to a dominating title run in 2026 and following a 2023 Final Four appearance with Florida Atlantic.
May’s résumé includes time as a manager under Bob Knight at Indiana, a steady ascent from video coordinator through a series of mid-major stops, and eight seasons in which he has won nearly 70 percent of his games, the report says. His teams are known for innovative offensive sets, and May has built a reputation for clear communication.
The Mavericks would hand May a young roster centered around 19-year-old Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg and two first-round picks from Tuesday’s draft (Nos. 9 and 30), a combination the report describes as offering clear potential. May’s track record of adapting styles to available personnel and his stated focus on reaching the NBA are cited as reasons the hire could work.
Historically, college coaches who jumped to the NBA have often struggled, the report notes, citing names such as John Calipari, Lon Kruger, Leonard Hamilton, Tim Floyd and Mike Montgomery, and pointing out that Rick Pitino did not last. The league’s successful college-to-NBA hires have been limited, the report adds, with Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan among the notable exceptions. Cleveland’s 2019 hire of John Beilein — who lasted 54 games — is cited as an example of recent difficulty.
The report frames May as a potential test case for a new generation of college coaches amid structural changes in college basketball. Name, image and likeness rules and the transfer portal have, according to the report, made the college game operate more like a professional league, narrowing the gap between the levels. May has no pro coaching experience, but the report says his background and the current roster situation make him a noteworthy fit and one to watch regardless of outcome.
