by As of this morning, according to ESPN Senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, Dusty May, the former head basketball coach at the University of Michigan, has agreed to become the new head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
Many people know about Dusty May’s success over the past few years, particularly his time at Florida Atlantic University from 2018 to 2024, where he led FAU to its first-ever Final Four appearance during the 2022–23 season. They also know about his two years at Michigan from 2024 to 2026, where he helped lead the program to a Big Ten Championship in 2025 and an NCAA National Championship this past season in 2026, defeating UConn 69–63. In 2023, he earned Conference USA Coach of the Year honors, and in 2026, he was named Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Those accomplishments make for a very impressive resume, but what many people do not know is how he got there.
His career began at USC, where he served as a video coordinator and administrative assistant from 2000 to 2002, doing whatever he could to get his foot in the door and build connections for the future. He then returned to his alma mater, Indiana University, where he worked as a video coordinator and administrative assistant from 2002 to 2005.
May’s coaching career officially began at Eastern Michigan, where he served as an assistant coach from 2005 to 2006. He then spent one season at Murray State from 2006 to 2007, followed by stops at UAB from 2007 to 2009 and Louisiana Tech from 2009 to 2015. In 2015, he accepted his first SEC assistant coaching position at the University of Florida under Mike White and remained there until 2018.
In 2018, May was hired for his first head coaching position at Florida Atlantic, and the rest is history. His career path demonstrates remarkable determination, patience, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities in different places. Spending 18 years working his way through various roles before earning his first head coaching job is a testament to his perseverance. Even after reaching that milestone, he continued pushing forward rather than treating it as his final destination. Today, he finds himself as the head coach of an NBA franchise. His journey is truly inspiring and serves as an excellent example for young coaches hoping to climb the ranks of the profession.
May will be stepping into a favorable situation as he begins his NBA coaching career. The Mavericks feature a talented roster led by Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, veteran point guard Kyrie Irving, sharpshooter Klay Thompson, and key role players such as PJ Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Khris Middleton. Flagg, at just 19 years old, provides an ideal cornerstone for a first-time NBA head coach because of his elite talent, versatility, and long-term potential.
The Mavericks also hold the ninth, 30th, and 48th overall picks in the upcoming NBA Draft, which will take place on June 23 and 24. Another storyline to watch is whether May will target any of his former Michigan players. Yaxel Lendeborg is projected as a mid-first-round pick, while Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. are also highly regarded prospects. Given May’s familiarity with their games and personalities, any of them could be strong fits for the Mavericks as he begins shaping the roster around his vision.
In conclusion, Dusty May has earned every opportunity that has come his way through hard work, persistence, and a deep understanding of the game of basketball. I am excited to see what the Mavericks do in the upcoming draft, and if they can stay healthy throughout the season, they could emerge as a dark-horse contender in the Western Conference.
Sources:
Dusty May. (n.d.). Dusty May – Men’s basketball coach. University of Michigan Athletics. Retrieved June 22, 2026, from https://mgoblue.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/coaches/dusty-may/6721
ESPN. (n.d.). Dallas Mavericks roster. ESPN. Retrieved June 22, 2026, from https://www.espn.com/nba/team/roster/_/name/dal/dallas-mavericks
ESPN. (2026, June 22nd). Sources: Michigan’s Dusty May finalizing deal to coach Mavericks. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/49143856/sources-michigan-dusty-finalizing-deal-coach-mavericks
National Basketball Association. (n.d.). 2026 Dallas Mavericks team profile. NBA.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026, from https://www.nba.com/draft/2026/team-profiles/2026-dallas-mavericks
