Dallas Mavericks Have 2 Collegiate Candidates for the Vacant Head Coaching Role, Per Insider
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The Dallas Mavericks are casting a wider net in their search for a new head coach, approaching college basketball's rising stars rather than limiting themselves to NBA candidates. After bringing on Masai Ujiri as president of basketball operations, the team has held preliminary talks with Duke's Jon Scheyer and Michigan's Dusty May, according to league insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. Both coaches have built strong programs and proven track records, Scheyer led Duke to the Elite Eight last season, while May has turned around Michigan's fortunes. The move signals the franchise's willingness to pursue unconventional hires as they reshape their roster and front office.
After hiring Masai Ujiri as their president of basketball operations, the Dallas Mavericks plan to find their next head coach, and they are reportedly expanding their search beyond the NBA.
According to league insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Dallas Mavericks have had preliminary talks about Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Michigan’s Dusty May, with the former having coached Cooper Flagg. However, it remains to be seen whether both coaches are interested in leaving their teams for the NBA.
“It remains to be seen whether Duke’s Jon Scheyer or Michigan’s Dusty May reach full-fledged candidate status with Dallas since both are so entrenched with their universities,” Stein and Fischer said on The Stein Line.
“But league sources tell The Stein Line that there has been exploratory conversation with both college titans to try to determine if there is any interest. May, of course, just won a national championship with the Wolverines, while Scheyer coached Flagg as a Blue Devils freshman in 2024-25,” he added.
Michigan head coach Dusty May smiles at the podium during a celebration honoring the Wolverines’ NCAA men’s basketball national championship at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Dallas Mavericks Rumors: Insider makes bold Kyrie Irving prediction
As the Dallas Mavericks retool their team under Masai Ujiri, NBA insider Jake Fischer believes that there’s a possibility that they will move on from one of their veteran stars.
“I don’t necessarily believe that Kyrie Irving will be on the Mavericks roster come opening night,” Fischer said on his Bleacher Report livestream. “There will be contending teams that would make trade calls to Dallas.”
Irving did not play for the entire 2025-26 season due to a serious ACL injury. The Dallas Mavericks star said he is close to a full recovery, and has been recently linked to a potential move to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are searchng for more offensive firepower alongside Anthony Edwards.