The Dallas Mavericks are finalizing an agreement to name University of Michigan men’s basketball leader Dusty May as their next head coach. The Monday morning hiring arrives just one day ahead of the NBA Draft, abruptly ending May’s tenure in Ann Arbor exactly two months after he delivered the program its first national title since 1989. May steps in to replace Jason Kidd, who was fired in May following a disappointing 31-51 season.
The transition marks the first major move for new Dallas president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri. Ujiri targeted the college champion to build a new system around cornerstone forward Cooper Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and former No. 1 overall pick. May brings a 64-13 record over his two seasons at Michigan, capped by a dominant 37-3 run and the recent NCAA championship victory. Prior to his time with the Wolverines, he guided Florida Atlantic to a 2023 Final Four appearance.
Securing the reigning champion requires significant financial maneuvering by the Dallas front office. Ownership is currently paying out the remaining $40 million contract owed to Kidd. On the collegiate side, May is walking away from a five-year, $25.5 million extension that he signed with Michigan last year.
The sudden departure creates an immediate void for the Michigan Athletic Department. During the team’s championship celebration in April, Athletic Director Warde Manuel publicly declared to fans that May had reached a deal to stay “for many years to come.” May now becomes the first college head coach to jump directly to an NBA head coaching job since former Michigan coach John Beilein was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2019.