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Just months after cutting down the nets as national champions, Michigan basketball is facing a stunning reality.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Adam Schefter, and Shams Charania, Michigan head coach Dusty May is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, ending a remarkable two-year run in Ann Arbor and sending shockwaves through both college basketball and the NBA.
The move comes after May guided the Wolverines to the 2026 national championship, making him one of the most sought-after coaches in basketball.
May arrived at Michigan ahead of the 2024-25 season and wasted little time restoring the program to national prominence.
In just two seasons, he compiled a 64-13 record and delivered the school’s first national championship since 1989. His up-tempo style, player development, and ability to build culture quickly transformed Michigan into one of the nation’s premier programs.
Before arriving in Ann Arbor, May earned national recognition at Florida Atlantic, where he led the Owls to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a memorable Final Four run in 2023.
While May had publicly dismissed interest from other college programs this offseason, the NBA represented a different opportunity.
The Mavericks are coming off a disappointing 26-56 season that led to the firing of Jason Kidd.
Dallas believes May can help lead a turnaround centered around rising superstar Cooper Flagg, who is expected to be the franchise’s cornerstone moving forward.
The hiring is a significant gamble, but May’s track record suggests he is not afraid of big challenges. Everywhere he has coached, success has followed.
May’s jump to the NBA places him in a very exclusive group.
He becomes the first college head coach to leave directly for an NBA head coaching job since former Michigan coach John Beilein accepted the Cleveland Cavaliers position in 2019.
Even more remarkably, May is the first coach to leave for the NBA immediately after winning a national championship since Larry Brown departed Kansas in 1988.
The last NCAA championship-winning coach to make the leap to the NBA at any point was Billy Donovan, who left Florida for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015.
The timing of May’s departure creates an enormous challenge for Michigan’s athletic department.
Replacing a national championship coach is never easy, especially this late in the offseason. The Wolverines now face a coaching search that will instantly become one of the biggest stories in college basketball.
Michigan remains one of the sport’s premier jobs, but finding someone capable of matching what May accomplished in just two seasons will be a difficult task.
For now, Michigan fans are left processing a stunning development.
Just months after celebrating a national title, the architect of that championship is heading to the NBA.
Continue reading...
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Adam Schefter, and Shams Charania, Michigan head coach Dusty May is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, ending a remarkable two-year run in Ann Arbor and sending shockwaves through both college basketball and the NBA.
The move comes after May guided the Wolverines to the 2026 national championship, making him one of the most sought-after coaches in basketball.
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Dusty May’s Michigan Run Ends Abruptly
May arrived at Michigan ahead of the 2024-25 season and wasted little time restoring the program to national prominence.
In just two seasons, he compiled a 64-13 record and delivered the school’s first national championship since 1989. His up-tempo style, player development, and ability to build culture quickly transformed Michigan into one of the nation’s premier programs.
Before arriving in Ann Arbor, May earned national recognition at Florida Atlantic, where he led the Owls to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a memorable Final Four run in 2023.
While May had publicly dismissed interest from other college programs this offseason, the NBA represented a different opportunity.
Mavericks Turn to College Champion
The Mavericks are coming off a disappointing 26-56 season that led to the firing of Jason Kidd.
Dallas believes May can help lead a turnaround centered around rising superstar Cooper Flagg, who is expected to be the franchise’s cornerstone moving forward.
The hiring is a significant gamble, but May’s track record suggests he is not afraid of big challenges. Everywhere he has coached, success has followed.
Rare Move in Modern Basketball
May’s jump to the NBA places him in a very exclusive group.
He becomes the first college head coach to leave directly for an NBA head coaching job since former Michigan coach John Beilein accepted the Cleveland Cavaliers position in 2019.
Even more remarkably, May is the first coach to leave for the NBA immediately after winning a national championship since Larry Brown departed Kansas in 1988.
The last NCAA championship-winning coach to make the leap to the NBA at any point was Billy Donovan, who left Florida for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015.
What’s Next for Michigan?
The timing of May’s departure creates an enormous challenge for Michigan’s athletic department.
Replacing a national championship coach is never easy, especially this late in the offseason. The Wolverines now face a coaching search that will instantly become one of the biggest stories in college basketball.
Michigan remains one of the sport’s premier jobs, but finding someone capable of matching what May accomplished in just two seasons will be a difficult task.
For now, Michigan fans are left processing a stunning development.
Just months after celebrating a national title, the architect of that championship is heading to the NBA.
Continue reading...
