Dusty May talks decision to leave Michigan for NBA job

Dusty May took the Dallas Mavericks head-coaching job in one of the biggest shockers of the NBA offseason so far.

May will leave the Michigan Wolverines to take the Mavericks job after Jason Kidd was fired. He will get to help develop a roster around Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.

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Michigan head coach Dusty May talks with the media following a win over Michigan State after an NCAA college basketball game in Ann Arbor, Mich., on March 8, 2026. (Lon Horwedel/AP)

“The alignment with the front office and ownership group,” May told Fox News Digital/OutKick when asked what excited him about the job. “In addition, a young superstar in Cooper with one of the best point guards in the history of our game!”

The move comes just months after May guided Michigan to the 2026 national championship, cementing his status as one of the hottest coaching names in basketball. The 49-year-old compiled a 64-13 record with the Wolverines.

May’s rise through the coaching profession has been one of the sport’s most notable success stories.

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg watches from the bench during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 3, 2026. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

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After leading Florida Atlantic to a surprise Final Four appearance in 2023, he accepted the Michigan job in 2024 and quickly turned the Wolverines back into a national powerhouse. Over his final four seasons as a college head coach, May posted a remarkable 124-26 record.

His departure leaves Michigan facing an unexpected coaching search during the summer. The Wolverines return a talented roster that includes Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliot Cadeau, rising sophomore Trey McKenney and several high-profile transfers.

Under NCAA rules, though, players will have an opportunity to reevaluate their futures once a new head coach is hired.

Michigan head coach Dusty May celebrates after defeating UConn in the NCAA college basketball tournament national championship game at the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 7, 2026. (Michael Conroy/AP)

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Dallas finished 26-56 last season. The Mavericks have the Nos. 9 and 30 picks in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft.