Dusty May’s move from Michigan to the NBA is official.
One day after news broke that May was leaving Ann Arbor after two seasons and finalizing a deal with the Dallas Mavericks, the franchise announced his hiring as head coach on Tuesday.
“I am honored to join the Dallas Mavericks organization,” May said in a statement. “This is one of the most respected franchises in professional sports, with passionate fans, a talented roster, and a clear commitment to building a championship organization.
“I am grateful … for this opportunity, and I look forward to helping bring another championship to the city of Dallas.”
In his two years at Michigan, May took the Wolverines to new heights and to their first national title since 1989. After taking over a team that lost a program-record 24 games before he arrived, he led the Wolverines to a 64-13 record, two Big Ten titles and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
This past season, May put together one of the most dominant college teams and campaigns in recent memory. He guided the Wolverines to the outright Big Ten regular-season title by four games, a program-record 37 wins (tying 2004-05 Illinois for the most victories by a Big Ten team in a season), a Big Ten-record 19 conference wins and the second national title in program history.
Shortly after the Mavericks’ official announcement, Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel released a statement addressing May’s departure and expressing his gratitude for the job May did spearheading a remarkable two-year turnaround.
“While we are disappointed to see Dusty leave Michigan, we are deeply grateful to the May family for the lasting impact they have made on our program and our university,” Manuel said. “In just two seasons, Dusty restored Michigan basketball to national prominence and led our Wolverines through one of the greatest chapters in program history, culminating in our first national championship in 37 years. His leadership, vision, and belief in our student-athletes helped create a culture of excellence that made the entire Michigan community proud.
“We thank Dusty for his commitment to our program and the University of Michigan, and we wish him, Anna, and their family continued success as he begins this next chapter with the Dallas Mavericks.”
With May gone and Michigan’s summer workouts starting this week, Manuel announced that assistant coach Mike Boynton Jr. has been appointed head coach “in an interim capacity,” though it’s unclear for how long.
Manuel didn’t provide any details on when or if a coaching search will take place for May’s replacement.
“Mike has been an invaluable member of our staff and a respected leader throughout his career,” Manuel said. “He knows what Michigan basketball represents and has earned the trust and respect of our student-athletes and everyone in our program. His experience, character and commitment to our values make him the right person to guide the team during this transition.
“Michigan basketball’s tradition is as strong as ever, and our future remains bright. We will move forward with confidence, pride, and an unwavering commitment to the championship standard that defines this program.”
Instead of staying in Ann Arbor, building a powerhouse and making a run at another national title, May seized the opportunity to lead an NBA franchise that has one of the league’s top young stars in Cooper Flagg.
May, who will be formally introduced as the Mavericks’ new head coach at a later date, will look to join Larry Brown as the only coaches in basketball history to win an NCAA and NBA championship. Coincidentally, May is the first head coach to leave college immediately after winning the national title since Brown in 1988, when he left Kansas for the San Antonio Spurs.
“Dusty represents the type of leader we want guiding this franchise,” Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont said in a statement. “He has demonstrated throughout his career that success is built through preparation, character, accountability, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His leadership style, ability to develop people, and championship mindset align with the vision we have for the Dallas Mavericks.”
Prior to Michigan, May was head coach at Florida Atlantic from 2018-24, transforming a program that had little history of success into a consistent winner that went on a Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2023. At FAU, he registered the program’s two winningest seasons of 35-4 and 25-9 in back-to-back years.
May, a former student manager at Indiana, spent more than a decade grinding his way up the coaching ladder, with stops as an assistant at Eastern Michigan, Murray State, UAB, Louisiana Tech and Florida. After landing his first head-coaching job at FAU, he continued his rise in Ann Arbor and quickly turned around Michigan’s program all while becoming one of the most-coveted coaches in the sport.
Over his last four seasons as a head coach in college, May went 124-26, earning the reputation as someone who can maximize talent, assemble a roster with cohesive pieces, and cultivate a winning culture.
“We set out to find a leader who embodies the values we want to define our organization,” Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri said in a statement. “Dusty has won at every stage of his career because of his ability to build. He develops players, creates accountability, and brings people together around a shared standard of excellence. His work ethic is extraordinary, and his teams consistently reflect his values.
“When you study his journey, you see someone who has earned every opportunity through preparation, discipline, humility, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. We believe those qualities make him the right leader for the Dallas Mavericks.”
jhawkins@detroitnews.com
@jamesbhawkins
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Mavericks make Dusty May hiring official; Boynton named interim at UM
Reporting by James Hawkins, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By James Hawkins, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
