Dusty May is heading to the NBA. The former Michigan head coach officially accepted the Dallas Mavericks job, and before he left Ann Arbor behind, he wrote a goodbye letter to Wolverines fans. It was posted to his social media accounts and it reads exactly how you’d expect from a guy who just won a national championship and then walked away.
May took over Michigan in 2024. Two years later he cut down the nets at the 2026 March Madness Tournament. That’s a pretty short runway to a title and it made his decision to leave for Dallas all the more jarring for fans who thought they had their guy for the long haul.
Here’s what he wrote.
“Before we start this next chapter, I just wanted to say thank you. When my family and I came to Ann Arbor two years ago, we hoped we could help bring Michigan basketball back to where it belongs. I never could have imagined how special these last two seasons would be.”
He talked about the atmosphere at Crisler Center and the fans who traveled everywhere. He mentioned winning the Big Ten and cutting down nets in Indianapolis as moments he’ll never forget. But the part that probably stings most for Michigan fans is this: “What I’ll miss most are the people.”
May was careful to frame the move as a family decision. He said an opportunity came along that felt right and that he needed to pursue it. He also made a point of saying Ann Arbor became home and that he’ll always be grateful. The letter ends with “Go Blue.”
The Mavericks Move
May replaces Jason Kidd, who coached Dallas for five years and led the team to the NBA Finals in 2024. Kidd’s tenure ended with the organization looking for a new direction. So they turned to a college coach with exactly two years of high-major experience.
Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri released a statement that sounded like it was written by someone who really studied May’s résumé. Ujiri called him a builder who develops players and creates accountability. He mentioned May’s work ethic and his ability to bring people together around a shared standard. The word “humility” came up too.
It’s a gamble. College coaches moving to the NBA don’t always work out. But Ujiri clearly believes May’s track record — which includes winning at Florida Atlantic before Michigan — translates to the pros.
May now steps into a Dallas roster that still has pieces from the Finals run. The question is whether he can keep that momentum going or if this becomes another example of a college coach struggling with the league’s different rhythms. Either way, he’s leaving Ann Arbor with a title and a thank-you note that sounded like he meant it.
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