Dusty May is on his way out of Ann Arbor, with multiple reports saying the University of Michigan head coach is leaving to take over the Dallas Mavericks. The jump, first shared Monday by ESPN insiders, would be an unusually fast move from college to the NBA for a coach who just delivered Michigan its first national title since 1989. For Wolverine fans, it is a jolt, and for the Mavericks franchise, reshaping its front office under Masai Ujiri, it is a bold swing on the sidelines.
According to WXYZ, ESPN reporters Shams Charania, Pete Thamel and Adam Schefter say May has agreed to take the Mavericks job. Michigan's official biography shows he compiled a 64-13 record in two seasons in Ann Arbor and engineered a rapid turnaround for the program. Those two years included a Sweet Sixteen in 2024-25 and the title run this spring.
The Wolverines capped the season with a 69-63 victory over UConn in the national title game, as reported by AP News, Michigan's first championship since 1989. That win, paired with May's reputation for player development, helped elevate his name on NBA short lists.
May's rise to the national stage was built over several seasons at Florida Atlantic, where he spent six years and guided the Owls to a surprise Final Four in 2023. That body of work is a big reason NBA teams had been circling his name this offseason.
Why Dallas May Have Moved
The Mavericks have been actively interviewing candidates for their vacancy, and RealGM reported Dallas spoke with at least seven head coaching options and explored conversations with college coaches, including May and Duke's Jon Scheyer. With the 2026 NBA Draft scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday, the Mavericks front office appears motivated to have a coach in place who can weigh in on roster decisions and draft strategy.
What This Means For Michigan
Losing a national championship coach this quickly raises immediate questions in Ann Arbor about roster stability, recruiting and the transfer portal as the program gears up for the fall. Michigan's athletic leadership will likely face pressure to move fast, reassure current players and incoming recruits, and try to capitalize on the momentum of a title season rather than let it slip away.
The reports at this stage rest with ESPN insiders and local coverage and have not been followed by a formal, on-the-record announcement from either Michigan or the Mavericks as of today. Expect more clarity once one of the organizations issues an official statement or rolls out a timeline for the transition.
