Report: Dusty May to leave Michigan for the NBA, with the Dallas Mavericks reportedly in the mix

Dusty May’s run at Michigan appears to be ending almost as quickly as it began, with a report saying the program’s coach has decided to leave for the NBA and is expected to take the head-coaching job with the Dallas Mavericks. The timing is striking for college basketball, coming just weeks after Michigan’s season success, and it underlines how fluid coaching jobs can be when the NBA comes calling.

According to Busting Brackets, May’s decision is tied directly to an NBA opportunity rather than a short-term disruption. The report frames it as a move from Michigan to Dallas, meaning the head-coaching search in Ann Arbor could begin immediately rather than after the summer recruiting window has fully played out.

May’s departure would be a major staffing and recruiting development for Michigan, not only because head coaches set the tone for player development and offense, but because they also anchor recruiting relationships and the daily standards for how a team prepares. Even when assistant coaches remain, the transition period following a coaching change can affect how incoming recruits view stability and how returning players adjust to new decision-making.

The backdrop matters. Michigan’s recent success elevated May’s profile nationally, and college programs often face a familiar calculus after their best seasons: retain a proven coach while balancing the reality that elite postseason runs can accelerate NBA interest. In this case, the report’s central claim is that May chose to take the higher-profile step despite the novelty of his championship-stage momentum.

While the report indicates a clear direction, it does not, in the information available here, provide official confirmation from either Michigan or the Mavericks. That distinction is important, because coaching moves can change late in the process due to contractual timelines, league procedures, or internal reviews. For now, the move should be treated as reported, not confirmed.

If the decision is finalized, the Mavericks’ need would be straightforward: they would be adding a head coach with recent tournament credibility and a track record of building winning lineups under high pressure. For Michigan, the immediate concern becomes continuity, specifically who will lead practice planning, oversee the offensive identity built during May’s tenure, and manage recruitment after the departure of the head recruiter.

What to watch next is formal confirmation. The next meaningful checkpoints would be statements from Michigan’s athletic department and the Mavericks’ organization, followed by Michigan’s timeline for naming an interim coach or announcing May’s successor. Recruiting follow-through will also be a fast-moving story for players considering Michigan during the summer recruiting cycle.