The Mavericks have their new coach.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel, Dallas is hiring Michigan’s Dusty May to replace Jason Kidd.
May, 49, arrives after leading the Wolverines to the national championship this past season and has quickly built a reputation as one of the brightest coaches in college basketball. Before his two successful years at Michigan, he spent six seasons at Florida Atlantic, highlighted by the Owls’ memorable Final Four run.
The hire ends a month-long search conducted by the Mavericks’ new front office, led by president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz.
Dallas had also been linked to Duke coach Jon Scheyer throughout the process. In fact, several reports suggested the Mavericks were willing to give Scheyer every opportunity to consider the job before moving in another direction.
Instead, they landed May, and it’s not hard to see the appeal.
The Mavericks are rebuilding around reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who is widely viewed as the franchise cornerstone moving forward. The opportunity to coach a young star such as Flagg reportedly played a role in May’s decision to leave Michigan for the NBA.
Dallas also owns the Nos. 9 and 30 picks in this week’s draft, giving May and the front office additional opportunities to continue building a young core.
The move leaves Michigan searching for a replacement just months after winning a national title.
According to ESPN, May becomes the first college head coach to jump directly to the NBA since John Beilein left Michigan for the Cavaliers in 2019. He is also the first coach to take an NBA job immediately after winning a national championship since Larry Brown in 1988.
As for the NBA, Dallas fills its vacancy and leaves Portland as the league’s lone team still searching for a head coach.
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